Persian gulf war veterans suffer dermatologic conditions - Educational Opportunities

AORN Journal, Dec, 2001

Military personnel who have been deployed abroad often experience physical and psychological effects when they return home, according to a July 30, 2001, news release from the American Academy of Dermatology. Physical effects can include dermatologic conditions that may remain dormant for years.

For veterans of the Persian Gulf War, one of the most common dermatologic conditions is leishmaniasis, an infectious disease caused by a protozoan transmitted by the bite of a sandfly. Sandflies are mosquito-like yet are small enough to pass through mosquito nets. These insects are found in rain forests, highlands, and deserts such as the Persian Gulf.

Medical experts believe humans with a particular form of leishmaniasis store the organism in their bodies and may pass the parasite to others. When the parasite enters the human body, it may migrate to the bone marrow, spleen, or lymph nodes. It also may damage the immune system. Complications caused by leishmaniasis may result in death according to the release.

Leishmaniasis begins as a small dark red or purple bump. It may appear immediately after a bite or several weeks later. The bump eventually becomes crusty in the center and may become locally invasive and attack deeper tissue. After approximately two months, the bump will stop spreading and heal into a chronic skin sore. Sodium stilbogluconate is an effective treatment for this parasite and is available to physicians through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 12 million people worldwide are afflicted with leishmaniasis. Currently, more than 400,000 cases are seen annually. More than 75,000 annual deaths worldwide are caused by the systemic form of the disease.

Tropical acne is another disease often seen in military personnel, including those who served in southeast Asia during World War II, in the Vietnam War, and in the Persian Gulf War. Tropical acne, in its most severe form, presents as large, inflammatory nodules located mainly on the body and buttocks. These nodules may become infected secondarily with staphylococci bacteria.

Another frequent dermatologic condition encountered by military personnel abroad is sunburn. Many people are not accustomed to the intensity of the sun in arid climates and rely soley on sunscreen for sun protection. This may result in severe sunburn that eventually may lead to cancer. Research also has shown that ultraviolet radiation may suppress the immune system temporarily and leave the body susceptible to other illnesses, according to the release.

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