Affected feet may become numb, by erythema or cyanosis, as a result of poor blood supply, and may begin emanating a decaying odor if the early stages of necrosis set in. As the condition worsens, feet may also begin to swell. Advanced trench foot often involves blisters and open sores, which lead to fungal infections; this is sometimes called tropical ulcer. If left untreated, trench foot usually results in gangrene, which may require amputation. If trench foot is treated properly, complete recovery is normal, although it is marked by severe short-term pain when feeling returns.
Causes
Unlike frostbite, trench foot does not require freezing temperatures; it can occur in temperatures up to and within as little as 13 hours. Exposure to these environmental conditions causes deterioration and destruction of the capillaries, and leads to morbidity of the surrounding flesh. Excessive sweating has long been regarded as a contributory cause; unsanitary, cold, and wet conditions can also cause trench foot.
Prevention
Trench foot can be prevented by keeping the feet clean, warm, and dry. It was also discovered in World War I that a key preventive measure was regular foot inspections; soldiers would be paired and each partner made responsible for the feet of the other, and they would generally apply whale oil to prevent trench foot. If left to their own devices, soldiers might neglect to take off their own boots and socks to dry their feet each day, but when it was made the responsibility of another, this became less likely.
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment, like the treatment of gangrene, is surgical debridement, and often includes amputation. Self-treatment consists of changing socks two or three times a day and usage of plenty of talcum powder. Whenever possible, shoes and socks should be taken off, the feet bathed for five minutes and patted dry, talcum powder applied, and feet elevated to let air get to them.
History
Trench foot was first documented by Napoleon's army in 1812. It became prevalent during the retreat from Russia and was first described by the French army surgeon Dominique Jean Larrey. It was also a problem for soldiers engaged in trench warfare during the winters of World War I. Trench foot made a reappearance in the British Army during the Falklands War, in 1982. Some people were even reported to have developed trench foot at the 1998 and 2007 Glastonbury Festivals, the 2009 and 2013 Leeds Festivals, as well as the 2012, 2016, and 2019 Download Festivals, as a result of the sustained cold, wet, and muddy conditions at the events.
