c. Water Immersion Diseases (Injuries). More appropriately termed injuries
than termed diseases, these morbid conditions are a constant hazard to the soldier who
must spend long periods of time either wholly or partially submerged in water. The
swelling, wrinkling, and whiteness of the skin of the hands when they have been in
water for a half hour or so is familiar to everyone. If the skin stays wet for 48 to 72
hours, most people will have visible damage. Depending on the duration of exposure,
prolonged immersion in water may cause swelling, discoloration, and desquamation of
the skin, resulting in painful and disabling injury. "Trench foot" and "immersion foot" are
injuries sustained from prolonged standing in wet socks and boots or immersed in water
at temperatures between 32F and 50F. They are considered nonfreezing cold injuries
as well as immersion diseases. "Paddy foot" is confined to the soles of the feet
whereas "warm water immersion foot" includes injury to the entire foot, ankle, and
sometimes the lower leg. Prevention of immersion diseases (injuries) is dependent
upon frequent changes of clothing and socks and periodic drying and airing of the skin.
ARTHROPOD-BORNE DISEASES AND PARASITES
Arthropod-borne diseases historically have decimated military units in the field.
Most of these diseases are caused by organisms that are transmitted by an arthropod
vector from the body of an infected person or animal (reservoir) to the body of a
susceptible. The prevention of arthropod-borne diseases depends upon proper
education of the troops in their causes and the rigid enforcement of individual and unit
protective measures. The following are some of the major arthropod-borne diseases of
military importance and the principal measures in their prevention.
a. Malaria. Caused by the transmission of the infectious agent through the bite
of the female Anopheles mosquito, malaria may also be spread from one person to
another by blood transfusion or contaminated hypodermic needles. The latter modes
are insignificant, however, in considering preventive measures in the field. Malaria
prevention consists of two categories of protective measures--physical protection and
chemoprophylaxis. Physical measures, or malaria discipline, consist of using insect
repellent, mosquito nets, aerosol sprays, and allowing a minimum of exposed skin--
especially at night when mosquitoes are most active. Chemoprophylaxis, consisting of
weekly administration of the chloroquine-primaquine pill, actually suppresses the
symptoms of malaria rather than preventing its presence in the bloodstream. To ensure
that every soldier takes his pill, administration should be by roster under the supervision
of an NCO.
b. Plague. Plague, the disease known as the "black death," which ravaged
Europe and Asia in the 14th Century, still exists in some parts of the world. The most
common form, bubonic plague, is transmitted to man by the bite of the rat flea. Control
measures include immunization of troops in endemic areas, use of individual insecticide
powder and aerosol spray in clothing and bedding, and implementing effective rat
control measures, particularly by avoiding the accumulation of garbage, trash, and
available food sources in bivouac areas.