Gulf%20War%20Issues

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Gulf War Issues

• Starring Your Host
• Ian Welch

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Topics of discussion

• Leishmaniasis
• Brain Cancer
• ALS
• Undiagnosed Illnesses

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Leishmaniasis(Sand Fleas)

• What is Leishmaniasis?
• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Other information

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Leishmaniasis

• What is Leishmaniasis?
• Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by
  the bite of infected sand flies.
• 3 types
• Visceral
• Mucocutaneous
• Cutaneous

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Visceral Leishmaniasis

• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Enlarged Spleen and Liver
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Swollen glands
• Possible low blood counts, including a low red
  blood cell count, low white blood cell count, and
  low platelet count.

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Visceral Leishmaniasis

• Of the 21 Cases in Afghanistan that were
  reported, all were in the 1980s
• According to the CDC, Only 2 American Service
  Members cases have been reported since

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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis?

• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Have one or more sores on the skin.
• The sores can change in size and appearance over
  time.
• Often look somewhat like a volcano, with a raised
  edge and central crater.
• The sores can last for months or years.
• Can take weeks or months to develop.
• Can be diagnosed using a blood smear.

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Leishmaniasis

• Other information
• Treatment Usually heals on its own
• Can leave scar after healing
• 1.5 Million new cases each year
• Is common in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Leishmaniasis

• Questions?

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Brain Cancer

• Is Brain cancer caused by Sarin gas exposure?
• Study posted in the American Journal for Public
  Health.
• Statistical link only.
• The study was criticized and continues to be
  studied.
• Any Gulf War veteran with brain cancer should
  still file a claim.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Aka - Lou Gehrigs disease
• Gulf War veterans who served from 1990 to 1991.
• VA and DoD Research shows these veterans have a
  nearly two-fold risk than those veterans who did
  not serve in the Gulf.
• Any Gulf War veteran with ALS should file a claim
  immediately.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Signs and Symptoms
• Weakness begins more so in the hands than the
  feet. May progress on one side of the body more
  than the other.
• Muscle cramping, twitching, spasms.
• Tremors
• Weakness of the throat muscles causing speech
  difficulties, swallowing, even breathing.
• Many times it takes 10 or more years to develop.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• There is no cure but there is treatment.
• The VA is using sodium phenylbutyrate and other
  medications to slow the progress of the disease.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Questions?

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Undiagnosed illnesses

• What is an undiagnosed illness?
• What are the conditions most commonly associated?

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Undiagnosed illnesses

• What is an undiagnosed illness?
• Veteran must have served in the Persian Gulf War.
• Redefined medically unexplained chronic
  multisymptom illness (MUCMI).
• Disability that manifested itself to a degree of
  10 or more not later than December 31, 2011.
  (extended)
• Disability must be chronic for no less than 6
  months. (proven with medical or lay statements)

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Undiagnosed illness

• What are the disabilities most commonly
  associated?
• MUCMI
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable bowel syndrome

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What are the disabilities most commonly
associated? (cont)

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Abnormal weight loss
• Menstral disorders

• Signs or Symptoms of the following
• Skin
• Neurological
• Neuropsychological
• Respiratory system
• Gastrointestinal
• Cardiovascular

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What does all this mean?

• Any veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War
  that is suffering from a disability (especially
  one that is listed) should file a claim
  immediately.

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• Questions??