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Immersion foot, archaically trench foot, is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp and cold. It was a particular problem for soldiers engaged in trench warfare during the winter months of World War I, World War II, and also during the Vietnam conflict.
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Immersion foot occurs when feet are cold and damp while wearing constricting footwear. Unlike frostbite, immersion foot does not require freezing temperatures and can occur in temperatures up to 60° Fahrenheit (about 16° Celsius). Immersion foot can occur with only twelve hours of exposure. When affected by immersion foot, the feet become numb, followed by a change in colour to red or blue. As the condition worsens, the feet may swell. Advanced immersion foot often involves blisters and open sores, which lead to fungal infections. In such cases immersion foot can be referred to as jungle rot. If left untreated, immersion foot usually results in gangrene, which can require amputation. If treated properly and quickly, complete recovery is normal, but recovery is marked by severe short-term pain as feeling returns. Like other cold injuries, those who experience immersion foot are more susceptible to it in the future.
Immersion foot is easily prevented by keeping the feet warm and dry, and changing socks frequently when the feet cannot be kept dry. British soldiers in World War I were advised to keep multiple pairs of clean socks on hand, and change them at least three times daily[citation needed]. During World War I[citation needed], soldiers were provided with whale grease and told to apply it to their feet as part of a bid to reduce the prevalence of this condition in the trenches. The idea was to make the feet waterproof. It was also discovered that a key measure was regular foot inspections by officers[citation needed].
Trench foot made an unwelcome reappearance in the British Army during the Falklands War in 1982. The causes were the cold wet conditions and the DMS boot which was insufficiently waterproof. Large numbers of soldiers were incapacitated by the condition and it was rumoured that had the war not ended when it did the British advance would have ground to a halt.