Background: On 25 April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. Soon after, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) dispatched a rapid-response team and opened a tertiary field hospital in Kathmandu. There is limited data regarding the spectrum of diseases among rescue teams to disease-stricken areas. The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity among the field-hospital staff during the mission.

Methods: The rescue team was deployed for a 2-week mission in Kathmandu. Pre-travel vaccinations were given prior to departure. The field-hospital was self-equipped including food and drinking water supply with a self-serving kitchen, yet had a shortage of running water. A Public Healthcare and Infectious-Diseases team was present and active during the entire mission. A survey assessing the morbidities and risk-factors throughout the mission was performed at the last day.

Results: One hundred thirty-seven (69%) team members completed the questionnaire. Medical complaints were recorded in 87 of them (64%). The most common symptoms were gastrointestinal (GI) (53% of all responders, 84% of the 87 with symptoms). Respiratory symptoms were recorded in 16% and fever in only 8%. There was no significant difference in the rate or spectrum of morbidity between the medical and the non-medical staff.

Conclusions: The Israeli field hospital was a stand-alone facility, yet 53% of its' staff suffered from GI complaints. Prevention of morbidity and specifically of GI complaints upon arrival to a disaster-stricken area in a developing country is difficult. Medical teams in such missions should be acquainted with treating GI complaints.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taw083DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

defense force
8
field hospital
8
team
5
morbidity
4
morbidity israeli
4
israeli defense
4
force response
4
response team
4
team nepal
4
nepal post-earthquake
4

Similar Publications

Introduction: Bone turnover markers reflected the bone remodeling process and bone health in clinical studies. Studies on variation of bone remodeling markers in different stage CKD were scant, and this study investigated the role of bedside intradialytic cycling in altering concentrations of bone-remodeling markers in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Materials And Methods: Participants were segmented into four groups: a group with eGFR >60 ml/min/1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inducing magnetic ordering in a non-ferrous layered double hydroxides (LDHs) instigates higher spin polarization, which leads to enhanced efficiency during oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In nano-sized magnetic materials, the concept of elongated grains drives domain alignment under the application of an external magnetic field. Hence, near the solid electrode interface, modified magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) positively impacts the electrocatalytic ability of non-ferrous nanocatalysts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Trichohepatoenteric syndrome (THES) is a rare genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. THES primarily leads to neonatal enteropathy, typically manifesting as severe, persistent diarrhea, distinctive facial features such as frontal bossing and a broad flat nasal bridge, woolly and fragile hair, immunodeficiency resulting in recurrent infections, failure to thrive (FTT), and liver complications including fibrosis or cirrhosis. This multisystem disorder is linked to mutations in the tetratricopeptide repeat domain 37 (TTC37) gene, also known as superkiller complex (SKIC) protein 3, responsible for THES type 1, and the Ski2-like ribonucleic acid (RNA) helicase (SKIV2L) gene, also known as SKIC2, responsible for THES type 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Ecthyma is a deeper form of impetigo involving the epidermis and dermis causing ulcerative plaques. Pathogens commonly responsible for the disease (group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus) typically afflicts children, presenting during early stages with skin lesions that can closely resemble other vesicular and ulcerative dermatoses, such as those observed in mpox infection. The ongoing global outbreak of monkeypox has escalated the urgency for clinicians to accurately differentiate between these conditions due to their overlapping dermatological manifestations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Verdazyl radical polymers for advanced organic spintronics.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Charles D. Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Spin currents have long been suggested as a potential solution to addressing circuit miniaturization challenges in the semiconductor industry. While many semiconducting materials have been extensively explored for spintronic applications, issues regarding device performance, materials stability, and efficient spin current generation at room temperature persist. Nonconjugated paramagnetic radical polymers offer a unique solution to these challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!