Dermatological manifestations in a tropical training environment: emphasis for the general medical officer.

Cutaneous disease in the tropical training environment will be of concern for the medical officer assigned to ensure the health of soldiers participating in training. A review of all "sick calls" recorded during deployment to the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama showed that 50% of the medical complaints were dermatologically related. This should emphasize the need for medical officers to have significant dermatologic knowledge and appropriate supplies.