What Are Trench Foot and Chilblains?
Trench foot is a painful disorder of the foot involving damage to the skin, nerves, and muscle that is caused by prolonged exposure to cold or dampness or by prolonged immersion in cold water. The soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War I developed this painful condition because they did not have access to clean, dry socks and boots. Chilblain (CHILL-blain; often referred to in the plural, “chilblains”) usually affects the fingers and is characterized by redness, swelling, and itchiness caused by exposure to damp cold. Tissue damage is less severe with chilblains than with frostbite, where the skin is actually frozen. Chilblains do not cause permanent damage.
