Training related ENT morbidity: a study amongst cadets of a military training institute

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONMilitary training involves a harsh and rigorous regimen, which may lead to inadvertent injury and bodily dysfunction. The ear, nose and throat are especially vulnerable given the nature of the training. Regular exposure to loud noise of training firearms, combative nature of the schedule and the physically tough and demanding training may cause ENT morbidity. The present study relates to the cadets of a military training academy undergoing training for induction into the Armed Forces.In military training, a multitude of loud noise exposures may compromise the auditory wellbeing of the cadets. Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus are not uncommon during military training and subsequent service.1,2 This morbidity causes loss of training manhours and reduced combat readiness, which has a huge impact on cost of training. Moreover cadets undergoing training belong to the young adult age group. During this time other factors may also play a causative role in hearing loss. These include pre enrollment occupational or recreational noise exposure, pre-existing middle ear disease, a positive family history or previous head injury. 3,4 Studies to date describing the patterns of disease and injury in under training military populations have dealt almost exclusively with orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injuries. Despite evidence that suggests that cadets/ recruits are at a greater risk to certain types of training and combat-related illnesses and injuries, the nature and magnitude of these problems has not been fully ABSTRACT Background: Military training involves a harsh and rigorous regimen leading to inadvertent injury and bodily dysfunction. The ear, nose and throat are vulnerable given the nature of the training, which invariably involves combative sports and organized firing practice, which may lead to increased morbidity. This article is based on a population study of training related ENT morbidity amongst cadets undergoing training at a military institute. Methods: The study was carried out in three parts including determinations of morbidity statistics due to ENT illnesses amongst cadets during training, awareness levels and attitudes of cadets towards common ENT ailments and effect of military training on the audiometric parameters. Results: Daily cadet sick report was 250 -270 a month with 21% being respiratory/ENT in nature. Of these 33% were nasal trauma, 18% ear ache with uri, 12% hearing loss/tinnitus, 25% throat symptoms and 12% with allergic symptoms. Overall incidence of hearing loss during the study period was 60.1 per thousand per year, which was mostly transitory. Conclusions: Injuries caused due to training lead to loss of motivation and reduction in combat efficacy as a result of decreased training time. Increasing awareness and better planned training schedules are the need of the hour.