Barodontalgia and barotrauma in the human teeth: findings in navy divers, frogmen, and submariners of the Federal Republic of Germany.

From 2,580 submariners, divers, and frogmen, 13,618 individual findings were evaluated from a total of about 50,000 dental findings of the Nautical Medical Institute of the German Navy, Kiel, West Germany. Trend analysis and statistical significance tests showed that the teeth of navy divers and frogmen had deteriorated very much more within a period of 9 years after their first dental examination than those of submariners. This negative tendency was verified through additional direct comparison between 37 navy divers and 37 submariners whose dental states were observed during a period of 10 years. Here as well, navy divers had significantly worse teeth. The cause of this distinctive dental deterioration among navy divers is probably due to the additional barometric stress they were subjected to for many years during their diving career. Delayed damages as a result of barotrauma may be assumed, a logical suspicion which should be verified by further scientific research.

State of knowledge about AIDS among seamen as well as the spreading of HIV in this occupational group.

In the period from March 1, 1987 until October 31, 1988, 873 seamen were examined on HIV and questioned on their state of knowledge on AIDS. A questionnaire with 7 questions on AIDS and 6 important features of the seamen was statistically evaluated. This evaluation showed the following results: 22% of all persons questioned had already had venereal diseases. Seamen from the so-called "Third World" were more frequently affected than Europeans which points to a lack of preventions. Younger seamen under 30 years of age were more frequently affected than older ones (no experience, carelessness). Venereal diseases in seamen decreased gradually. This may be due to the rising awareness of the risk of AIDS. 37% of the persons examined use condoms during sexual intercourse. Ship officers and container crews use condoms more frequently (better information or precaution, lack of time for going ashore). An increase of use of condoms was stated. 79% of all seamen questioned knew what the word AIDS means. Europeans, ship officers and younger seamen were better informed than the other groups. 42% had printed information leaflets on board their ships. 55% of European vessels had leaflets on board. The ways of transmission of AIDS were only known to 66% of all seamen questioned. Only 55% knew that AIDS cannot be cured. The comparison between two periods of questioning in 1987 and 1988 shows the following: Venereal diseases decreased slightly. The use of condoms increased. The state of knowledge on AIDS improved considerably. Crews of container vessels are generally better informed on AIDS than crews of other kinds of vessels. Out of 873 seamen who were tested on AIDS 5 (0.57%) were HIV-positive, among them 2 Africans and 3 persons from West Europe. All differences given are significant (range of significance ...0.001-0.05).