Trench Foot: The frightening disease of WWI trenches

Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, was a medical condition that affected soldiers who spent prolonged periods of time in the wet, muddy, and unsanitary conditions of the trenches.

The disease was caused by a combination of cold, wet conditions, poor circulation, and bacterial infection.

The symptoms of trench foot were extremely painful and debilitating.

Soldiers would initially experience numbness, tingling, and a burning sensation in their feet, along with swelling, blisters, and redness.

Left untreated, trench foot could lead to gangrene, which could result in amputation or even death.

The prevalence of trench foot during the First World War was staggering. It is estimated that as many as 75,000 British soldiers suffered from the disease during the conflict.

The condition was so widespread that it became a major concern for military commanders.

They were forced to take drastic measures to prevent its spread.

To combat trench foot, soldiers were instructed to keep their feet dry and clean as best as they could at all times.

However, this was easier said than done, as the trenches were constantly filled with water and mud.

To try and keep their feet dry, soldiers would stuff their boots with straw or newspapers.

Some would even wrap their feet in greaseproof paper or whale oil.

But if you were unfortunate enough to develop this horrible condition, was there any hope for recovery?

The most important people you could call on to help were the army medical officers.

They would inspect the feet of soldiers on a regular basis, looking for any signs of the disease.

If trench foot was detected, soldiers would be immediately evacuated from the trenches and sent to a field hospital.

Unfortunately, the treatment of trench foot was not easy. Soldiers would have to have their feet cleaned and dried, and would be given warm baths to improve circulation.

Infected and decaying skin would have to be removed. For many soldiers, this was a terribly painful experience.

In the most severe cases, amputation was necessary to save lives. At the end of the war, many soldiers had to return home with some of one or both of their legs missing.

Despite the efforts to prevent and treat trench foot, the disease remained a constant and serious problem throughout the war.

It was only after the conflict ended that the true extent of the damage caused by trench foot became clear.

Many soldiers who had contracted the disease were left with lifelong medical problems, including chronic pain and mobility issues.