Morbidity surveillance among Dutch troops during a peace support operation in Cambodia

This prospective descriptive study presents the morbidity among 2,283 Dutch marines in northwest Cambodia from 1992 and 1993. In a field database, we recorded 4,036 consultations from 1,356 persons (59.4%) leading to 3,562 diagnoses and 392 different International Classification of Diseases codes. Most diagnoses were for tropical disorders (24.8%), musculoskeletal disorders and injuries (23.9%), and dermatological disorders (22.7%). Risk factors for morbidity were being in battalion 1 and in lower military ranks. There were 3,468 lost working days (0.91%), predominantly caused by musculoskeletal disorders and injuries (35.1%), tropical disorders (29.7%), and dermatological disorders (18.1%). Risk factors for lost working days were being in battalion 1, of younger age, and in lower ranks. Most lost working days occurred during the second month of each deployment. Despite many consultations, the overall morbidity and consequent lost working days remained low.