Military medicine
-
Historical Article
History of respiratory illness at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Throughout history, respiratory diseases have been a frequent cause of morbidity in U. S. populations. Because of stress, crowding, and naïve immune systems, military training populations are particularly prone to acute respiratory disease epidemics. ⋯ Enhanced surveillance and rapid diagnostic capabilities, placed in military settings, will increase knowledge of the epidemiology of many respiratory diseases. These strategies can lead to earlier treatment and prevention measures, thus halting the further transmission of disease and decreasing both morbidity and mortality. During the most recent history of the Naval Academy, acute respiratory infections have remained a primary cause of medical morbidity.