Gulf War Syndrome
Approximately 697,000 U.S. service members were deployed to the Persian Gulf from January to March 1991 as part of a multinational effort to stop Iraq's attack against Kuwait. And while the war itself was short, a long battle has been taking place ever since by veterans, the government and scientists to determine what has caused "Gulf War Syndrome," a mysterious collection of symptoms reported by as many as 70,000 U.S. men and women who served in the war. They are joined by British veterans in their health complaints, and in smaller numbers by Canadians, Czechs, and Slovaks.
Gulf War Syndrome is a complex array of symptoms, including chronic fatigue, rashes, headaches, diarrhea, sleep disorders, joint and muscle pain, digestive problems, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and depression. A small percentage of veterans have had babies born with twisted limbs, congestive heart failure, and missing organs. The veterans blamed these abnormalities on their service in the Gulf. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also found high rates for brain and nervous system cancers among these veterans, up to seven to 14 times higher than among the general population, depending on the age group. Considering that most soldiers and veterans are younger and in better physical shape than the general population, researchers find such figures more than surprising.
