Epidemiology of colds in military units during a German out-of-area mission in Kosovo (former Yugoslavia).

In the opinion of soldiers and unit surgeons, specific environmental and climatic conditions in the mission in the former Yugoslavia increase the incidence of severe infections of the respiratory tract (so-called "Kosovo Cough"). Proof is pending. Thus, colds were analyzed during Bundeswehr operations in the province of Kosovo. Over a period of 4 weeks in January 2003, all German soldiers who reported for medical treatment or requested medicine were registered. Patients provided information about their disease as well as information about smoking habits, etc. Two hundred three soldiers (9.2% of all) were treated for a cold. Although 72 soldiers (35.5%) complained about a subjectively perceived unusually long and severe clinical course, all infections proved uncomplicated from an objective viewpoint. The findings are inconsistent with an increased incidence of colds. There was no indication of the existence of the so-called "Kosovo Cough."