Search

Background: Seasickness (SS) is an often hidden pathology, but one that can significantly disrupt work on board. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of SS on the workability of workers on board vessels. Materials and methods: We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted on 250 oceanographers in 2015 during 3 months. Based on the “Bos seasickness susceptibility questionnaire”, we created a specific questionnaire with 49 questions. Results: 151 men and 72 women responded to the survey. 188 of them (91.7% of women and 80.8% of men) report being seasick, either occasionally (69%) or at each boarding where there is female predominance (23.6% vs. 11.3% for men). The major symptoms are nausea (82%) and vomiting (56%). 60% of the workers think that SS has an influence on the success of their mission, by first affecting their mood (50%), relationship (23%), and increased risk of accidents such as falls, accidents on machines or in laboratories (40%). Antinaupathic treatments also produce deleterious effects on their workstation. Women have higher risk of developing SS (odds ratio [OR] 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–6.6; p = 0.04), more frequently taking medicines when ill (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.27–13.2; p = 0.004) and coming with her own tablets (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.3–4.1; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Gender is a trending factor of SS. Information on SS clinical signs, impact and therapeutics could be prone to prevent sickness and impact of it on workability.

Background: A single-handed transatlantic rowing race was organised between Senegal and French Guyana (2600 nautical miles). During the race, rowers adjust their lifestyle to maintain an optimal level of performance. Nutrition, circadian rhythm disturbance, psychological state, pain and other medical problems impact on physical abilities and increase the occurrence of accidents. We surveyed the prevalence of medical complications during this race and the preparation that we could suggest for this kind of activity. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective case series study. Follow-up consisted of sending out a questionnaire and performing individual interviews. Results: A total of 23 participants including 1 woman and 22 men; mean age of 46.5 years (range: 35–59) entered the race. The race lasted for 39 to 52 days with participants rowing between 10 and 12 h/day. Nine participants dropped out. Energy intake was 4500 to 6000 kcal/day and fluid intake was 4 to 5.5 L/day. Mean weight loss was 13.3 kg. The resting period was 6 ± 1 h/24 h divided into 1.5 to 2 h periods essentially during darkness. A total of 92% of the racers required medical care for dermatological problems; other conditions requiring medical care were: tendinitis in 10 cases, diarrhoea in 4, moderate to severe seasickness in 4, hallucinations in 3, panic attacks in 2, burns in 2, and disembarkation syndrome (“land sickness”) lasting from 45 min to 6 h in 13. Conclusions: Physiological and psychological impact of this type of event is still unclear. The most common medical problems are dermatological, rheumatological complications and minor trauma. Medical and psychological preparation should be offered to candidates for these competitions.

Metoclopramide is commonly used to treat vomiting caused by seasickness and acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships and serious adverse effects have not been reported from use at sea. We report severe long-lasting adverse effects in a young female seafarer following short-term, low-dose use of metoclopramide. During rough seas a 25-year-old female musician on a cruise vessel presented with nausea and vomiting. She was given intramuscular metoclopramide 10 mg and diphenhydramine 25 mg. Vomiting stopped after the injections, but she felt tired, confused and dizzy. She then had been taking metoclopramide 5-10 mg a day, but stopped after a total per oral dose of 30 mg as she developed disturbing symptoms that she related to the medication, including dizziness, anxiety, fatigue, depression and involuntary movements (twitches, jerks, ticks, and tremors of the eyelids, tongue, neck, fingers, arms and legs). Neurological examination, blood tests, electrocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were all normal. Although gradually reduced in strength and frequency, the adverse effects were very disturbing for about 10 months, but at 13 months she was almost fully recovered. For many years numerous vomiting sea travellers have been successfully treated with a single parenteral 10 mg dose of metoclopramide. There are no obvious reasons why our previously healthy patient experienced such serious and long-lasting side effects after low-dose, short-term metoclopramide administration. Until more is known, metoclopramide should be reserved for debilitating cases - and only be given after other remedies have been tried and found ineffective.