Trench Foot

[Guest guest]

Hi Guys,

My feet have been getting sore. It started very shortly after I had a

pedicure with the scraping tool used. They get red, hurt (but not to the

touch)

and swell if I stand on them too long. They feel better if I douce them with

hydrogen peroxide, use Lamisel cream and wear socks. Has anyone else had

this? If so, what do YOU do to treat it. This is so unappealing, but I think

I

might actually have " trench foot " !

Annonymous (yea right)

Trench Foot

Updated - Saturday, 17 August, 2002

Initially believed to be a symptom of poor morale by military authorities,

'trench foot' was in fact a fungal infection of the feet brought on by

prolonged exposure to damp, cold conditions allied to poor environmental

hygiene.

Its effects on armies - of all sides - during the early stages of _trench

warfare_ (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm) , before trench

conditions were much improved, could be severe.

Some 20,000 casualties resulting from trench foot were reputed to have been

suffered by the British Army alone during the close of 1914. Patients

sometimes had to have toes amputated (following gangrene) such were the effects

of

the condition.

Improved trench drainage and conditions in general led to a rapid

diminishment of cases; local commanders were also held accountable for such

outbreaks,

which consequently encouraged the provision of better trench conditions,

along with regular feet inspections, greasing of toes and changes of socks.

Waterproof footwear also greatly helped.

Nevertheless reports of individual cases continued throughout the war but

were not considered especially serious.