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.