Overall life in the trenches in World War One was less than what the government convinced soldiers to be. Most casualties of war were kept in the trenches, and due to this, illnesses could easily spread amongst the soldiers. Only a few of allie soldiers were treated in government hospitals, the rest were treated on the front line itself. Trenches were crowded and were, of course, very dirty especially after heavy rainfall when the trenches could quickly be filled with muddy water that could sometimes lead to the trench walls collapsing. When the weather was warmer this helped the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhus; which were deadly as anti-biotics hadn’t been invented yet.
These kinds of unsanitary conditions could sometimes lead to a medical condition called Trench Foot. This was a fungal infection caused by the cold, wet conditions and could sometimes turn gangrenous. This was extremely common as soldiers couldn't often take off their boots as they were so stiff and heavy. Eventually, in extreme conditions, a soldier who suffered from Trench Foot could end up losing his feet altogether or his foot could just be amputated instead. There were no anesthetics so this was painful, and soldiers sometimes died in the process due to blood loss.
Rats proved to be the biggest carrier of disease, millions infested the trenches and feasting on human remains. The rat infestation remained throughout the duration of the war contaminating food and spreading infection. There were reports that a rat could grow to be the size of a cat and this terrified the inhabitants of Trenches.
On top of the infestation of rats, soldiers also had frogs and lice to contend with. Lice would live and breed within the men’s clothes and may eventually cause Trench Fever, a disease that could take up to twelve weeks to recover from. On average, there could be over 3 million lice on a single soldier’s body, and this was mainly due to the fact that a soldier couldn't bathe often. Lice bred in the seams of filthy clothing and causing men to itch a lot. Even when clothing was washed, lice eggs remained hidden in the seams; within a few hours of the clothes being re-worn the body heat generated would cause the eggs to hatch. Other issues included frogs from marshy land and nits, however, men usually shaved their heads to avoid this.
Rats proved to be the biggest carrier of disease, millions infested the trenches and feasting on human remains. The rat infestation remained throughout the duration of the war contaminating food and spreading infection. There were reports that a rat could grow to be the size of a cat and this terrified the inhabitants of Trenches.
On top of the infestation of rats, soldiers also had frogs and lice to contend with. Lice would live and breed within the men’s clothes and may eventually cause Trench Fever, a disease that could take up to twelve weeks to recover from. On average, there could be over 3 million lice on a single soldier’s body, and this was mainly due to the fact that a soldier couldn't bathe often. Lice bred in the seams of filthy clothing and causing men to itch a lot. Even when clothing was washed, lice eggs remained hidden in the seams; within a few hours of the clothes being re-worn the body heat generated would cause the eggs to hatch. Other issues included frogs from marshy land and nits, however, men usually shaved their heads to avoid this.
Due to rising demands and the current emergency rationing, decent food quickly become scarce within the trenches. Much of the food was stale and most soldiers barely ever had a hot meal. This led to malnutrition or severe diarrheoa.
Infection and gangrene claimed a much higher percentage of fighting men’s lives than did actual deaths directly from fighting. Antibiotics had not been invented in World War I, so palliative care was about the only treatment that could be given, and this usually had no positive effect on the men anyway.
Infection and gangrene claimed a much higher percentage of fighting men’s lives than did actual deaths directly from fighting. Antibiotics had not been invented in World War I, so palliative care was about the only treatment that could be given, and this usually had no positive effect on the men anyway.
The most common diseases in the trenches were Trench foot and trench fever. The third of the 'Trench' diseases - 'Trench Mouth' was caused by poor oral hygiene, physical/emotional stress, poor diet, lack of rest and heavy smoking. All were elements of life in the trenches on the western front (where the British fought). It was brought about by a malign overgrowth of normal mouth-dwelling bacteria, which attacked and eroded the gums, causing bleeding, ulceration, sloughing off of the gum membranes and particularly bad breath. The ensuing gum pain was such that eating. swallowing, and even talking, was frequently difficult.
Besides the direct effects of wounds, the indirect effects of many men in close, dirty quarters meant that common diseases like colds and the flu could spread quickly. When it rained, the trenches became low-level marshes, filled with inches of dirty water that made soldiers susceptible to fungal infections now known as trench foot and trench mouth. Parasites like lice, fleas, and weevils were everywhere, and they could spread other diseases. Dysentery, typhus, and cholera could spread quickly during warm, wet weather, forcing many of the troops to either resort to the trenches or evacuate back to their country. Lung diseases also were among the things men suffered from, due to the constant gas attacks, and just the general concentration of Carbon dioxide in the air.
Although not classed as a disease, Shell shock was common amongst the soldiers. Several things are signs of shell shock. Most commonly, soldiers seem disoriented and unable to focus. They may also experience a number of autonomic nervous system reactions like shaking, nightmares, twitching, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, and irritability. Shell shock is the reaction of some soldiers in World War I to the trauma of battle. It is a reaction to the intensity of fighting and conditions the soldiers were placed in.
Although not classed as a disease, Shell shock was common amongst the soldiers. Several things are signs of shell shock. Most commonly, soldiers seem disoriented and unable to focus. They may also experience a number of autonomic nervous system reactions like shaking, nightmares, twitching, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, and irritability. Shell shock is the reaction of some soldiers in World War I to the trauma of battle. It is a reaction to the intensity of fighting and conditions the soldiers were placed in.