• Bhupi Singh.
• RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, RAAF Base, Edinburgh SA, Australia. bhupinder.singh@defence.gov.au
• Aviat Space Envir Md. 2002 Jul 1;73(7):684-7.

MethodsThe medical records of air travellers (passengers and crew) seeking emergency medical assistance at the Airport Emergency Clinic, Seeb International Airport, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, during a 1-yr period were analyzed to determine the sickness pattern among them.ResultsThe study revealed that 67% of the passengers seeking medical assistance were aged between 21 and 45 yr, and the majority (63.8%) was male. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, injuries (sustained during journey), and otitic barotrauma/baro-otalgia accounted for more than half (51.9%) of the cases. The most common type of injury among passengers was cuts and bruises in the scalp area, but most injuries (34.7%) occurred on airport premises, not as the result of baggage falling in-flight. Lack of aerobridges is responsible for significant number of lower limb injuries to passengers. Such data highlight the need for an injury-free environment in the airports. Barotrauma was the most common cause of aircrew unfitness to continue the flight, and usually resulted in a forced layover for the concerned aircrew.ConclusionsThe data may be useful for planning and developing medical facilities at commercial airports. Need for a safe, non-injurious environment at the airports is highlighted.

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