Review of the Scientific Lierature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses. Volume 1. Infectious Diseases

摘要

Following the Gulf War, some veterans of that conflict began reporting a variety of health conditions and other symptoms, some of which remain unexplained. The Department of Defense (DoD), as part of its effort to inquire into possible causes of these illnesses, has commissioned various studies of the scientific literature about potential or contributing causes of illnesses in Gulf War veterans. This document represents one such study. It focuses on infectious diseases with the goal of presenting current medical knowledge regarding these diseases, irrespective of the specific issues surrounding the Gulf War. When appropriate, it interprets whether a particular infectious disease or related condition is likely to explain symptoms experienced by those who served in the Gulf War. Infectious diseases have been extensively studied and their identification, diagnosis, and treatment are generally well understood. Therefore, this study does not consider all infectious diseases. Rather, it focuses on known or plausible ones-those that were actually diagnosed in people who served in the Gulf War or that are known either to exist in the Persian Gulf area or to produce symptoms similar to those experienced by Gulf War veterans. A complete review of the scientific literature, even as it pertains to the discussed infectious diseases, is beyond the scope of this volume.