Flying and Health — Page 112, Lesson 172

I want to walk you through the section on Flying and Health, specifically looking at the less serious mental states and then the tropical diseases and medical hazards that aircrew need to be aware of. Let's start with the neurotic-type mental states. We're talking about conditions like anxiety states, phobic states, depression, or obsessional disorders. These are considered less serious than psychotic disorders, but they are still significant. The key point here is that while these disorders are active—meaning the symptoms are present—or while they are under treatment with drugs or counselling, they will be a bar to flying. You cannot operate an aircraft in that condition. However, after successful treatment, when you are in good health and off all drug treatment, most pilots will be able to return to flying duties. So it's not a permanent disqualification, but it requires full recovery and being medication-free before you can be cleared. Now, moving on to tropical diseases and medical hazards, which includes Hepatitis and Diabetes. The first responsibility I want to highlight is yours as aircrew: you are responsible for arranging your own vaccinations against communicable diseases. If you are travelling for the first time to areas where these diseases may be found, you should arrange a medical brief prior to travel. The list in this section covers the most important hazards, but it is far from complete. There is an important note here about cabin air. In modern airliners, approximately two thirds of the cabin air is recirculated. This recirculation can itself cause health problems, such as Legionnaires disease, and can be associated with the spread of other infections or diseases. So even the aircraft environment itself presents a hazard. Let's look at Malaria first. Malaria is still considered one of the world's biggest killers. It is responsible for the death of about 1 million infants and children every year in Africa. The symptoms include recurrent cyclic fever, uncontrolled shivering, and delirium. This must be treated in hospital. Now, a critical point about prevention. Over the years, too much reliance has been placed on antimalarial tablets, which are providing less and less protection. The only sure way to stop catching malaria is to avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes that carry the protozoa responsible for the disease. So the individual should wear long trousers and long sleeves in the evening, when the insects are active. When in air-conditioned rooms, avoid opening the windows and always spray the room before retiring. If mosquito nets are provided, use them. If antimalarial prophylaxis—that is, preventive medication—is taken, the treatment should generally start a week before departure to an area where malaria is endemic. It should continue throughout your stay and for 4 weeks after leaving. You should seek advice from an aviation medical specialist as to the choice of prophylactic drugs to be taken. Next, Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an airborne contagion that has made a dramatic return. It was virtually extinct in the developed world and was believed to be under control in other countries. However, in recent years there has been a great upsurge in the disease in many parts of Africa and other developing areas, and it now compares with Malaria as a killer disease. It is passed by airborne water droplets, normally through coughing or sneezing. The organism may lie dormant for several years before symptoms appear. Those symptoms include a hacking cough, anorexia—which is loss of appetite—chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and sweating. Hospitalization is necessary. Finally, Smallpox. Smallpox is an acute viral infection. Although the World Health Organization confirmed in May 1980 that the disease had been eradicated, cases have reappeared. So it remains a hazard to be aware of. That covers the key medical hazards and the mental state considerations that can affect your fitness to fly.