INTRODUCTION

The majority of this text is dedicated to medical problems that are encountered during expeditions typically in remote, extreme, and politically unstable environments. In reality, many of the medical problems that arise during expeditions are less “exotic” and medical personnel should be prepared to treat a wide variety of more “common” medical problems as well.

When common medical problems do occur, they may represent new, acute illness or exacerbation of chronic disease. In either case, due to limited resources, during an expedition, evaluation and treatment may differ from that offered in traditional care settings. It is thus important to understand when on-site treatment may be appropriate and when evacuation of an ill or injured individual is necessary.

A comprehensive discussion of all possible medical problems that might occur during an expedition is beyond the scope of any single text. Rather, this chapter discusses some of the more common medical problems that could occur during expeditions and that may be treated by on-site medical personnel. In addition, several less common medical problems that are not covered elsewhere in the text are included. Medical problems such as myocardial infarction that may be relatively common but often require evacuation and treatment beyond the scope of on-site medical personnel are not included.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS

During an expedition, it is likely that individuals will be exposed to allergens different from those in their home region. Allergic reactions range from very mild to lifethreatening, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, reactive airway disease, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis.