Assessment of the Increased Risk of Infection Following an Ultratrail

The increase in the practice of running has encouraged a proliferation of studies evaluating the impact of this sport on health. A number of these studies have looked at the influence of endurance events on the immune system. After prolonged exercise, a systemic inflammatory syndrome sets in, with repercussions for the functioning of the immune system. The number of lymphocytes in the blood is reduced, the function of natural killer (NK) cells is impaired and secretory immunity is impaired. During this period of immunosuppression, often referred to as the 'open window', the host may be more susceptible to micro-organisms that bypass the first line of defence.

The invetigators' hypothesis is therefore that ultratrailers are overexposed to the risk of infection due to immunodepression resulting from practising this sport. In order to support this hypothesis, the investigators would like to look at infectious complications in general and ear-nose and throat episodes (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc.) in particular, which are the most common infections encountered in primary care, along with urinary tract infections.