Diseases and Infections

In World War One

By Grace, Jenny, Abbie, Bethany, Claudia, Laylia and Aliza

Diseases and InfectionsNowadays most diseases and infections can be treated by antibiotics, but in World War One they did not have all of the medical advances that we are very lucky to have today. Also if you got a cut in the trenches it could become infected which sometimes resulted in amputation! As they didn’t have the medical advances many soldiers did die from their injuries.

Influenza/Spanish Flu

Influenza in 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War itself.Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh(pronounced guitar).

Influenza/Spanish Flu Warnings

In WW1 there were many influenza warnings

Trench FootSome soldiers suffered from a condition called trench foot. This was caused by standing in water and mud for a long time and losing blood circulation. In severe cases soldiers had to have their feet or legs amputated.The foot becomes numb, changes, colour, swell and starts to smell due to damage to the skin, blood vessels and nerves in the feet.

Trench FeverTrench Fever was an unpleasant disease caused by body lice. The fever was easily passed between soldiers, causing them to suffer from high fever, headaches, aching muscles and sores on the skin. It was painful and took around to get better from. For many soldiers it was an illness that struck them more than once.