Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewCausesSymptomsComplicationsWho Is at RiskDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Causes
Symptoms
Complications
Who Is at Risk
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Prognosis
Trench foot is an injury that occurs when feet are exposed to cold and wet conditions. It is one of three types of immersion foot.
When your feet are cold and damp for long periods of time, the body constricts blood flow to prevent heat loss. This results in a lack of oxygen supply to the feet and damage to tissue. Symptoms of trench foot include numbness, pain, redness, and swelling. Over the longer term, it can cause open sores and blisters that often result in bacterial or fungal infections.
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What Is Trench Foot?
Trench foot and other immersion foot disorders differ according to the temperature of exposure to non-freezing, damp conditions (as well as unsanitary conditions at times).The other two types are warm water immersion foot and tropical immersion foot.
Trench foot can lead to the breakdown of skin and tissue, which causes painful sores and blisters; it can also put you at risk for developing bacterial or fungal infections.
Trench Foot During WWI
How did soldiers get rid of trench foot?During World War I, soldiers with trench foot were treated with bed rest and a variety of foot remedies that could include opium, lead, alcohol, etc.Prevention was the most important strategy for managing trench foot. Soldiers were required to inspect their feet daily, carry three pairs of socks, and rotate the dry socks at least two times each day.Troops were also rotated and the trenches were kept as dry as possible using wooden boards to keep soldiers from walking in the water. These measures were found to decrease the incidence of trench foot.
How did soldiers get rid of trench foot?
During World War I, soldiers with trench foot were treated with bed rest and a variety of foot remedies that could include opium, lead, alcohol, etc.Prevention was the most important strategy for managing trench foot. Soldiers were required to inspect their feet daily, carry three pairs of socks, and rotate the dry socks at least two times each day.Troops were also rotated and the trenches were kept as dry as possible using wooden boards to keep soldiers from walking in the water. These measures were found to decrease the incidence of trench foot.
During World War I, soldiers with trench foot were treated with bed rest and a variety of foot remedies that could include opium, lead, alcohol, etc.
Prevention was the most important strategy for managing trench foot. Soldiers were required to inspect their feet daily, carry three pairs of socks, and rotate the dry socks at least two times each day.
Troops were also rotated and the trenches were kept as dry as possible using wooden boards to keep soldiers from walking in the water. These measures were found to decrease the incidence of trench foot.
The main cause of trench foot is long periods of wet,cold feet. When the feet get wet, they lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet.
But, unlike frostbite, this occurs without freezing temperatures. The condition usually results from exposure to temperatures between 32 F and 59 F, but a temperature as warm as 60 F could cause trench foot when exposure occurs over a period of at least 10 to 14 hours.
When the feet are cold and moist, the destruction of small blood vessels (calledcapillaries) can lead to thebreakdown of tissue. Constriction (vasoconstriction) and dilation (vasodilation) of the blood vessels are thought to be the cause of local tissue damage.
Can sweaty feet cause trench foot?In some cases, you can develop trench foot if you have excessively sweaty feet, known as hyperhidrosis.The risk is increased if your feet are subjected to cold temperatures for an extended period of time or if you have injuries.
Can sweaty feet cause trench foot?
In some cases, you can develop trench foot if you have excessively sweaty feet, known as hyperhidrosis.The risk is increased if your feet are subjected to cold temperatures for an extended period of time or if you have injuries.
Trench Foot Symptoms
Symptoms of trench foot may include:
Symptoms of trench foot can involve the toes, heel, or the entire foot. In very severe conditions it can cause swelling of the leg all the way up to the knee.
How long does it take to get trench foot?The symptoms usually appear after exposure to conditions for a day or two, but they can begin in as little as an hour after exposure. Some people can be exposed to a cold, damp environment for up to a week before symptoms appear.
How long does it take to get trench foot?
The symptoms usually appear after exposure to conditions for a day or two, but they can begin in as little as an hour after exposure. Some people can be exposed to a cold, damp environment for up to a week before symptoms appear.
The severity of the symptoms of trench foot depends on the temperature, how wet the feet get, and the length of exposure to coldness and wetness.
Stages of Trench Foot
Trench foot is often categorized into one of four stages, including:
The affected foot/feet may develop a sensation of being cold permanently.Secondary Raynaud’s syndrome(a condition involving an exaggerated sensitivity to cold in which the toes turn blue and/or white upon exposure to cold and then bright red on rewarming) develops as a result of long-term constriction of small blood vessels.
Complications that may occur as a result of trench foot include:
Who Is at Risk for Trench Foot?
Trench foot is not very common among the civilian population, but it can be seen in homeless people due to unsanitary conditions and the inability to keep feet warm and dry.
The condition is also seen in fishermen because they are prone to having wet feet for long time spans, as well as hikers and people who camp or attend outdoor festivals in wet conditions.
A thorough physical exam, combined with an assessment of the environment and situation in which symptoms occurred, is the basis for formulating a diagnosis of trench foot.
In addition, other possible causes (such as an infection) must be ruled out. Therefore awhite blood cell count(WBC) may be ordered. A bone scan or other imaging tests may be ordered to rule out any type ofosteomyelitis(infection in the bone).
How Do You Treat Trench Foot?
Many treatment and prevention measures for trench foot are the same. These include:
Forneuropathic pain(nerve pain), your healthcare provider may prescribe amitryptiline or other medications.
If gangrene occurs, amputation of the extremity may be required to prevent further progression of the disease and to keep serious consequences (such as sepsis or death) from occurring.
The best treatment for trench foot is prevention. Preventative measures include:
Complete recovery is expected when trench foot is diagnosed early; however, when sensation returns, there can be severe temporary pain in the affected area, even when complete recovery is expected.
A person who has been diagnosed with trench foot could end up requiring long-term follow-up medical intervention for one of several potential complications of trench foot (such as long-term damage to the blood vessels).
The amount of exposure time, coupled with the severity of the influential factors (such as outdoor temperature), will factor into a person’s prognosis.
Summary
Trench foot is an injury that can occur after prolonged exposure of the feet to cold, damp conditions. The condition causes reduced blood flow to prevent heat loss, which can lead to open sores, blisters, and infections.
People at greatest risk for developing trench foot are those who spend a lot of time outdoors in damp conditions such as hikers and campers. Homeless people may be at risk for trench foot as well.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hall A, Sexton J, Lynch B, et al.Frostbite and immersion foot care.Mil Med. 2018;183(suppl_2):168-171. doi:10.1093/milmed/usy085Anand P, Privitera R, Yiangou Y, Donatien P, Birch R, Misra P.Trench foot or non-freezing cold injury as a painful vaso-neuropathy: clinical and skin biopsy assessments.Front Neurol. 2017;8:514. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00514Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries (literature review).Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):7-13. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538Bennett BL, Holcomb JB.Battlefield trauma-induced hypothermia: transitioning the preferred method of casualty rewarming.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2S):S82-S89. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.010National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Cold stress—cold related illnesses.Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries.Медицина невідкладних станів= Медицина неотложных состояний= Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):9-15. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Preventing cold-related illness, injury & death among workers.UpToDate.Nonfreezing cold water (trench foot) and warm water immersion injuries.Zafren K.Nonfreezing cold injury (trench foot).Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10482. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910482Ingram BJ, Raymond TJ.Recognition and treatment of freezing and nonfreezing cold injuries.Curr Sports Med Rep. 2017;12(2):125-30. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182877454
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hall A, Sexton J, Lynch B, et al.Frostbite and immersion foot care.Mil Med. 2018;183(suppl_2):168-171. doi:10.1093/milmed/usy085Anand P, Privitera R, Yiangou Y, Donatien P, Birch R, Misra P.Trench foot or non-freezing cold injury as a painful vaso-neuropathy: clinical and skin biopsy assessments.Front Neurol. 2017;8:514. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00514Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries (literature review).Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):7-13. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538Bennett BL, Holcomb JB.Battlefield trauma-induced hypothermia: transitioning the preferred method of casualty rewarming.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2S):S82-S89. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.010National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Cold stress—cold related illnesses.Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries.Медицина невідкладних станів= Медицина неотложных состояний= Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):9-15. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Preventing cold-related illness, injury & death among workers.UpToDate.Nonfreezing cold water (trench foot) and warm water immersion injuries.Zafren K.Nonfreezing cold injury (trench foot).Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10482. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910482Ingram BJ, Raymond TJ.Recognition and treatment of freezing and nonfreezing cold injuries.Curr Sports Med Rep. 2017;12(2):125-30. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182877454
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hall A, Sexton J, Lynch B, et al.Frostbite and immersion foot care.Mil Med. 2018;183(suppl_2):168-171. doi:10.1093/milmed/usy085Anand P, Privitera R, Yiangou Y, Donatien P, Birch R, Misra P.Trench foot or non-freezing cold injury as a painful vaso-neuropathy: clinical and skin biopsy assessments.Front Neurol. 2017;8:514. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00514Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries (literature review).Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):7-13. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538Bennett BL, Holcomb JB.Battlefield trauma-induced hypothermia: transitioning the preferred method of casualty rewarming.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2S):S82-S89. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.010National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Cold stress—cold related illnesses.Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries.Медицина невідкладних станів= Медицина неотложных состояний= Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):9-15. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Preventing cold-related illness, injury & death among workers.UpToDate.Nonfreezing cold water (trench foot) and warm water immersion injuries.Zafren K.Nonfreezing cold injury (trench foot).Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10482. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910482Ingram BJ, Raymond TJ.Recognition and treatment of freezing and nonfreezing cold injuries.Curr Sports Med Rep. 2017;12(2):125-30. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182877454
Hall A, Sexton J, Lynch B, et al.Frostbite and immersion foot care.Mil Med. 2018;183(suppl_2):168-171. doi:10.1093/milmed/usy085
Anand P, Privitera R, Yiangou Y, Donatien P, Birch R, Misra P.Trench foot or non-freezing cold injury as a painful vaso-neuropathy: clinical and skin biopsy assessments.Front Neurol. 2017;8:514. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00514
Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries (literature review).Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):7-13. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538
Bennett BL, Holcomb JB.Battlefield trauma-induced hypothermia: transitioning the preferred method of casualty rewarming.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2S):S82-S89. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.010
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Cold stress—cold related illnesses.
Kravets OV, Yekhalov VV, Trofimov NV, Sedinkin VA, Martynenko DA.Trench foot and other non-freezing cold injuries.Медицина невідкладних станів= Медицина неотложных состояний= Emerg Med. 2022;18(8):9-15. doi:10.22141/2224-0586.18.8.2022.1538
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Preventing cold-related illness, injury & death among workers.
UpToDate.Nonfreezing cold water (trench foot) and warm water immersion injuries.
Zafren K.Nonfreezing cold injury (trench foot).Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10482. doi:10.3390/ijerph181910482
Ingram BJ, Raymond TJ.Recognition and treatment of freezing and nonfreezing cold injuries.Curr Sports Med Rep. 2017;12(2):125-30. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182877454
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