Inflight Medical Problems in Apollo Crews

Inflight Medical Problems in Apollo Crews[1]

 

Symptom/Finding

Etiology

Cases

Barotitis

Barotrauma

1

Cardiac arrhythmia

Undetermined, possibly linked with potassium deficit

2

Dehydration

Reduced water intake during emergency

2

Dysbarism (bends)[2]

Undetermined

1

Excoriation, urethral meatus

Prolonged wearing of urine collection device

2

Eye irritation

Spacecraft atmosphere

Fiberglass

4

1

Flatulence

Undetermined

3

Genitourinary infection with prostatic congestion

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1

Head cold

Undetermined

3

Headache

Spacecraft environment

1

Nasal stuffiness

Zero gravity

2

Nausea, vomiting

Labyrinthine

Undetermined (possibly virus-related)

1

1

Pharyngitis

Undetermined

1

Rash, facial, recurrent inguinal

Contact dermatitis

Prolonged wearing of urine collection device

1

1

Respiratory irritation

Fiberglass

1

Rhinitis

Oxygen, low relative humidity

2

Seborrhea

Activated by spacecraft environment

2

Shoulder strain

Lunar core drilling

1

Skin irritation

Biosensor sites

Fiberglass

Undetermined

11

2

1

Stomach awareness

Labyrinthine

6

Stomatitis

Aphthous ulcers

1

Subungual hemorrhages

Glove fit

5

Urinary tract infection

Undetermined

1


[1]Biomedical Results of Apollo, SP-368.

[2]Also occurred during Gemini 10; later incidences were reported by the same crewman five years after his Apollo mission.

 

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