Infection is by an organism which is conveyed to man through the excreta of infected lice, in whose intestine the minute non-motile bodies are found, known as Rickettsia bodies. After an incubation period of eight days the patient becomes feverish, with severe pains in the bones and muscles, particularly in the shins. The duration of the disease is very variable, and the pyrexia may persist for a few days only or for several weeks, with a marked tendency to relapse. During the pyrexial period there is often a rash somewhat resembling that of typhoid, and an enlarged spleen. The disease is never fatal, but may be followed by chronic ill-health with the persistence of pain in the shins.
Treatment is purely symptomatic.
The phenomenon of Trench Fever almost certainly accounted for the majority of Medical Officers' reports that were annoted 'P.U.O' or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin . The Germans also reported a comparable number of cases, although they attached a number of different names to the condition, including Wohlynian or Meuse Fever. Rats, who came up from the rivers and canals to feast on the decomposing corpses left out in no man's land, and flies, attracted by these many corpses and the poor sanitary conditions in the trenches, were another unwelcome plague. This page has been visited times. Thanks for your interest.