Trench foot is an important disorder in the feet which is not very common nowadays that results from the feet staying kept damp for extended periods of time. In times past, trench foot initially obtained fame through the first World War whenever members of the military got the trench foot through fighting in cold, wet circumstances in the trenches. It has been determined that greater than 75,000 English soldiers perished during that war on account of the difficulties from this condition. Since then, the importance of soldiers fighting in the trenches to keep their feet as dry as you possibly can to prevent the issue is well known. Trench foot can occur these days in activities where the feet are wet for prolonged periods of time, such as hiking in wet conditions for several days.
The look of the foot with trench foot consists of blisters, a blotchy and wrinkly physical appearance to the skin and a redness. The symptoms consist of coldness, a heavy sensation, tingling, it may be painful when exposed to warmth, persistent itching, along with a pins and needles feeling. Normally the whole foot is affected, but occasionally it could be only a portion of the foot.
Trench foot is certainly due to feet that become moist and remain wet and do not get dried off adequately. While cold temperatures could be a factor, it is the dampness that's important. If the trench foot is not dealt with rapidly it can lead to problems such as the need for an amputation, serious blisters, a painful foot, gangrene and ulcers, and long term neural damage. Trench foot is simple to identify in accordance with the appearance of the foot and also the history of wetness.
As health professionals have understood much more about the nature of trench foot the therapy have got better. Throughout the world war, trench foot was initially addressed with bed rest and foot washes produced from lead and opium. As the signs got better, rubs and plant-based essential oils have been applied. When the symptoms of trench foot did not improve then amputation has been sometimes required to avoid contamination and circulation problems from spreading to other regions of the body.
The early and mild symptoms of trench foot may be easily self-treated by taking off the hosiery and clean and dry the feet adequately; using warm packs to the area will help encourage the circulation; and do not wear socks to sleep. The foot ought to be watched very carefully for the development of any additional complications. In the event that this strategy doesn't recover rather quickly or if the signs and symptoms tend to be more serious, then a visit to a health professional is warranted. Even more rest and elevation of the leg can often be recommended. The quality of the blood flow will need to be looked at and when it's not necessarily enough then actions need to be applied to handle that. Medication could also be essential in helping with pain if that's an issue. If caught early, trench foot is easily treatable without resulting in any more issues. Prevention of trench foot is essential, and soldiers are very educated in that. The feet ought to be kept dry and having an extra pair of socks handy is a good solution.