Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Chronic fatigue
Cognitive dysfunction
Bronchitis
Asthma
Fibromyalgia
Alcohol abuse
Anxiety disorder
Sexual discomfort
Symptoms of Gulf War syndrome: Researchers found that in comparison with those who did not serve in the Gulf War, Gulf War military personnel from Iowa were more likely to report symptoms suggestive of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, bronchitis, asthma, fibromyalgia, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorder, and sexual discomfort. Investigators also found that service in the Persian Gulf War substantially affected the self-reported assessment of quality of life and functional health status. Among the Persian Gulf War veterans, researchers found relatively few differences between the frequency of medical and psychiatric conditions reported by National Guard or Reserve members and regular military personnel. 1
The medical and psychiatric conditions identified in the study appear to have had a measurable impact on the functional activity and daily lives of Persian Gulf veterans. 1
More symptoms of Gulf War syndrome: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Gulf War syndrome, underlying causes of Gulf War syndrome, associated conditions for Gulf War syndrome, risk factors for Gulf War syndrome, or other related conditions.
Gulf War
Illnesses Research
http://www.immed.org/illness/gulfwar_illness_research.html
Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illness has been used to describe a collection of chronic signs and symptoms reported by U.S., British, Canadian, Czech, Danish, Saudi, Egyptian, Australian and other Coalition Armed Forces that were deployed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Over 100,000 American veterans of Desert Storm /Desert Shield (approximately 15% of deployed U. S. Armed Forces) returned from the Persian Gulf and slowly (6-24 months or more) and presented with a variety of complex signs and symptoms characterized by disabling fatigue, intermittent fevers, night sweats, arthralgia, myalgia, impairments in short-term memory, headaches, skin rashes, intermittent diarrhea, abdominal bloating, chronic bronchitis, photophobia, confusion, transient visual scotomata, irritability and depression and other signs and symptoms that until recently have defied appropriate diagnoses (see publications). These symptoms are not localized to any one organ, and the signs and symptoms and routine laboratory test results are not consistent with a single, specific disease.
Although there is not yet a case definition for Gulf War Illness, the chronic signs and symptoms loosely fit the clinical criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Some patients have additionally what appears to be neurotoxicity and brainstem dysfunction that can result in autonomic, cranial and peripheral nerve demyelination, possibly due to complex chemical exposures. Often these patients have been diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) or Organophosphate-Induced Delayed Neurotoxicity (OPIDN). Chemically exposed patients can be treated by removal of offending chemicals from the patient's environment, depletion of chemicals from the patient's system and treatment of the neurotoxic signs and symptoms caused by chemical exposure(s). A rather large subset (~40%) of GWI patients have transmittible infections, including mycoplasmal and possibly other chronic bacterial infections, that have resulted in the appearance of GWI in immediate family members and civilians in the Gulf region. It is likely that veterans of the Gulf War who are ill with GWI owe their illnesses to a variety of exposures: (a) chemical mixtures, primarily organophosphates, antinerve agents and possibly nerve agents, (b) radiological sources, primarily depleted uranium and possibly fallout from destroyed nuclear reactors, and (c) biological sources, primarily bacteria, viruses and toxins, before, during and after the conflict. Such exposures can result in poorly defined chronic illnesses, but these illnesses can be treated if appropriate diagnoses are forthcoming.
Studies on Gulf War Illnesses: Chronic Infections
Identification of Mycoplasmal Infections in Gulf War Illness Patients:
Scientists at The Institute for Molecular Medicine have found that slightly under one-half of the very sick Gulf War Illness patients in a pilot study with the signs and symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia have chronic invasive infections involving certain uncommon mycoplasmas, such as Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain). This has now been confirmed in a large Department of Defense - Department of Veterans' Affairs clinical trial. Staff at The Institute for Molecular Medicine have recommended that these infections can be successfully treated with certain antibiotics, allowing the recovery of patients who have been long-term disabled. Similarly, in ongoing preliminary studies on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibomyalgia patients, we have found that a subset of patients have mycoplasmal infections that can be successfully treated with antibiotics, allowing patients to recover from their illnesses.
Identification of Other Infections in Gulf War Illness Patients:
The Institute for Molecular Medicine has been engaged in examining the blood of Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia patients for chronic infections that could explain their clinical conditions. So far, in preliminary research we have found that some patients have microorganism infections, such as those caused by Brucella or other bacteria. This line of investigation is now being actively pursued at the Institute.
PUBLICATIONS
1 Gulf War Illnesses-Causes and Treatments.
Armed Forces Med. Develop. 2001; 2: 41-44. html doc
2 Gulf War Illnesses: Role of Chemical, Radiological and Biological Exposures
War and Health, H. Tapamainen, ed., Helsinki , Zed Press, 2002, pp. 431-446 html doc
3 Chronic Fatigue Illness and Operation Desert Storm
J. Occup. Environ. Med. 1996; 38: 14-16, 1995 html doc
4 Progress on Persian Gulf War Illnesses-- Reality and Hypotheses
Int. J. Occup. Med. Tox., 1995; 4: 365-370 html doc
5 Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasmal Infections in Persian Gulf War Illness-CFIDS Patients
Int. J. Occup. Med. Tox. 1996; 5: 69-78 html doc
6 Mycoplasmal Infections and Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Illness (Gulf War Illness) Associated with Deployment to Operation Desert Storm
International Journal of Medicine 1988; 1: 80-92 html doc
7 Chronic Fatigue Illnesses Associated with Service in Operation Desert Storm Were Biological Weapons Used Against our Forces in the Gulf War?
Townsend Letter For Doctors 1996; 156: 42-48 html doc
8 Hospitalization for Unexplained Illnesses Among U. S. Veterans of Persian Gulf War
Emerg. Infect. Dis. 1998: 4: 707-709 html doc
9 Further Information About Persian Gulf War Health Questions--Reply
International Journal of Occupational Medicine, Immunology and Toxicology 1996 ; 5 : 83-86 html doc
10 Doxycycline Treatment and Desert Storm
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 1995 ; 273: 618-619 html doc
11 The Eight Myths of Operation Desert Storm and Gulf War Syndrome
Medicine, Conflict & Survival 1997; 13: 140-146 html doc
12 Gulf War Illnesses: Complex Medical and Scientific and Political Paradox
Medicine, Conflict & Survival 1998; 14: 74-83 html doc
13 Anthrax Vaccine: Controversy Over Safety And Efficacy
Antimicrobics and Infectious Disease Newsletter (Elsevier Science) 2000 ; 18(1) : 1 - 6 html doc
14 The Anthrax Vaccine Controversy.
Questions About its Efficacy, Safety and Strategy.
The Medical Sentinel 2000; 5(2): 97 - 101
html doc
15 Gulf War Illnesses: Chemical, Biological and Radiological Exposures Resulting in Chronic Fatiguing Illnesses can be Identified and Treated by Garth Nicolson et al. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 2001 html doc
16 High Prevalence of Mycoplasmal Infections in Symptomatic (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Family Members of Mycoplasma-Positive Gulf War Illness Patients by G.L Nicolson et al. J. Chronic FAtigue Syndr. 2002:vol. 10. html doc
17 Anthrax Vaccine: Historical Review and Current Controversies by Nass & Nicolson, Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine 2002 html doc
REPORTS
1 Anthrax Vaccine Linked to Gulf War Syndrome html doc
2 Report from Kuwait: Gulf War Illnesses Strike Civilians and Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War
Health Freedom News (1998) html doc
3 Summary Of Persian Gulf War Illness Pilot Study On Mycoplasmal Infections In Veterans And Family Members html doc
4 Brief Summary Of Possible Sources Of Chronic Infections Associated With Gulf War Illnesses
The Institute for Molecular Medicine html doc
5 Department of Veterans Affairs: News Release html doc
6 Recent Publications of Prof. Garth L. Nicolson on Gulf War Illness, CFS [Myalgic Encepthalomyelitis or CFIDS], FMS, Rheumatoid Arthritis (From a Total of 510 Medical/Scientific Publications and 14 Books html doc
7 Politics Interfere with Diagnosis and Treatment of Gulf War Illnesses
Criminal Politics, January 1996; 1: 13-18 html doc
8 The Enemy--From Within
Criminal Politics, October 1996 html doc
9 Gulf War Illness: Finally an Answer
Popular Science Magazine, April 1999 html doc
10 Death of the Anthrax Vaccine Program: Did this and other DoD vaccines cause Gulf War Illnesses? By Garth Nicolson and Mike Williams Soldier of Fortune Magazine 2001 html doc
11 Recommendations for Diagnostic Testing of Gulf War Illnesses by Garth Nicolson html doc
12 Update on Gulf War Illnesses: Relationship to Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E. and the Possible Role of Vaccines By Prof. Garth Nicolson, The Fibromyalgia Survivor, 2001 html doc
TESTIMONIES
1 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson : Mycoplasmal Infections in Gulf War Illnesses
President's Advisory Panel on Gulf War Syndrome, Washington D.C., August 14-16, 1995
html doc
2 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson, Committee On Government Reform And Oversight, Subcommittee on Human Resource and Intergovernmental Relations, United States House Of Representatives, April 2, 1996 html doc
3 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson, Committee On Government Reform And Oversight, Subcommittee on Human Resource and Intergovernmental Relations, United States House Of Representatives, June 26, 1997 html doc
4 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson Committee Of Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits United States House Of Representatives, July 16, 1998 html doc
5 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson Special Oversight Board For Department Of Defense Investigations Of Gulf War Chemical And Bological Incidents U. S. Senate Hart Office Building SH-216, November 19, 1998 html doc
6 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson, House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs and International Relations, United States House of Representatives, January 24, 2002. html doc
7 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Health, United States House of Representatives, January 24, 2002. html doc
Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illness has been used to describe a collection of chronic signs and symptoms reported by U.S., British, Canadian, Czech, Danish, Saudi, Egyptian, Australian and other Coalition Armed Forces that were deployed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Over 100,000 American veterans of Desert Storm /Desert Shield (approximately 15% of deployed U. S. Armed Forces) returned from the Persian Gulf and slowly (6-24 months or more) and presented with a variety of complex signs and symptoms characterized by disabling fatigue, intermittent fevers, night sweats, arthralgia, myalgia, impairments in short-term memory, headaches, skin rashes, intermittent diarrhea, abdominal bloating, chronic bronchitis, photophobia, confusion, transient visual scotomata, irritability and depression and other signs and symptoms that until recently have defied appropriate diagnoses (see publications). These symptoms are not localized to any one organ, and the signs and symptoms and routine laboratory test results are not consistent with a single, specific disease.
Although there is not yet a case definition for Gulf War Illness, the chronic signs and symptoms loosely fit the clinical criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Some patients have additionally what appears to be neurotoxicity and brainstem dysfunction that can result in autonomic, cranial and peripheral nerve demyelination, possibly due to complex chemical exposures. Often these patients have been diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) or Organophosphate-Induced Delayed Neurotoxicity (OPIDN). Chemically exposed patients can be treated by removal of offending chemicals from the patient's environment, depletion of chemicals from the patient's system and treatment of the neurotoxic signs and symptoms caused by chemical exposure(s). A rather large subset (~40%) of GWI patients have transmittible infections, including mycoplasmal and possibly other chronic bacterial infections, that have resulted in the appearance of GWI in immediate family members and civilians in the Gulf region. It is likely that veterans of the Gulf War who are ill with GWI owe their illnesses to a variety of exposures: (a) chemical mixtures, primarily organophosphates, antinerve agents and possibly nerve agents, (b) radiological sources, primarily depleted uranium and possibly fallout from destroyed nuclear reactors, and (c) biological sources, primarily bacteria, viruses and toxins, before, during and after the conflict. Such exposures can result in poorly defined chronic illnesses, but these illnesses can be treated if appropriate diagnoses are forthcoming.
Studies on Gulf War Illnesses: Chronic Infections
Identification of Mycoplasmal Infections in Gulf War Illness Patients:
Scientists at The Institute for Molecular Medicine have found that slightly under one-half of the very sick Gulf War Illness patients in a pilot study with the signs and symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia have chronic invasive infections involving certain uncommon mycoplasmas, such as Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain). This has now been confirmed in a large Department of Defense - Department of Veterans' Affairs clinical trial. Staff at The Institute for Molecular Medicine have recommended that these infections can be successfully treated with certain antibiotics, allowing the recovery of patients who have been long-term disabled. Similarly, in ongoing preliminary studies on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibomyalgia patients, we have found that a subset of patients have mycoplasmal infections that can be successfully treated with antibiotics, allowing patients to recover from their illnesses.
Identification of Other Infections in Gulf War Illness Patients:
The Institute for Molecular Medicine has been engaged in examining the blood of Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia patients for chronic infections that could explain their clinical conditions. So far, in preliminary research we have found that some patients have microorganism infections, such as those caused by Brucella or other bacteria. This line of investigation is now being actively pursued at the Institute.
PUBLICATIONS
1 Gulf War Illnesses-Causes and Treatments.
Armed Forces Med. Develop. 2001; 2: 41-44. html doc
2 Gulf War Illnesses: Role of Chemical, Radiological and Biological Exposures
War and Health, H. Tapamainen, ed., Helsinki , Zed Press, 2002, pp. 431-446 html doc
3 Chronic Fatigue Illness and Operation Desert Storm
J. Occup. Environ. Med. 1996; 38: 14-16, 1995 html doc
4 Progress on Persian Gulf War Illnesses-- Reality and Hypotheses
Int. J. Occup. Med. Tox., 1995; 4: 365-370 html doc
5 Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasmal Infections in Persian Gulf War Illness-CFIDS Patients
Int. J. Occup. Med. Tox. 1996; 5: 69-78 html doc
6 Mycoplasmal Infections and Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Illness (Gulf War Illness) Associated with Deployment to Operation Desert Storm
International Journal of Medicine 1988; 1: 80-92 html doc
7 Chronic Fatigue Illnesses Associated with Service in Operation Desert Storm Were Biological Weapons Used Against our Forces in the Gulf War?
Townsend Letter For Doctors 1996; 156: 42-48 html doc
8 Hospitalization for Unexplained Illnesses Among U. S. Veterans of Persian Gulf War
Emerg. Infect. Dis. 1998: 4: 707-709 html doc
9 Further Information About Persian Gulf War Health Questions--Reply
International Journal of Occupational Medicine, Immunology and Toxicology 1996 ; 5 : 83-86 html doc
10 Doxycycline Treatment and Desert Storm
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 1995 ; 273: 618-619 html doc
11 The Eight Myths of Operation Desert Storm and Gulf War Syndrome
Medicine, Conflict & Survival 1997; 13: 140-146 html doc
12 Gulf War Illnesses: Complex Medical and Scientific and Political Paradox
Medicine, Conflict & Survival 1998; 14: 74-83 html doc
13 Anthrax Vaccine: Controversy Over Safety And Efficacy
Antimicrobics and Infectious Disease Newsletter (Elsevier Science) 2000 ; 18(1) : 1 - 6 html doc
14 The Anthrax Vaccine Controversy.
Questions About its Efficacy, Safety and Strategy.
The Medical Sentinel 2000; 5(2): 97 - 101
html doc
15 Gulf War Illnesses: Chemical, Biological and Radiological Exposures Resulting in Chronic Fatiguing Illnesses can be Identified and Treated by Garth Nicolson et al. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 2001 html doc
16 High Prevalence of Mycoplasmal Infections in Symptomatic (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Family Members of Mycoplasma-Positive Gulf War Illness Patients by G.L Nicolson et al. J. Chronic FAtigue Syndr. 2002:vol. 10. html doc
17 Anthrax Vaccine: Historical Review and Current Controversies by Nass & Nicolson, Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine 2002 html doc
REPORTS
1 Anthrax Vaccine Linked to Gulf War Syndrome html doc
2 Report from Kuwait: Gulf War Illnesses Strike Civilians and Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War
Health Freedom News (1998) html doc
3 Summary Of Persian Gulf War Illness Pilot Study On Mycoplasmal Infections In Veterans And Family Members html doc
4 Brief Summary Of Possible Sources Of Chronic Infections Associated With Gulf War Illnesses
The Institute for Molecular Medicine html doc
5 Department of Veterans Affairs: News Release html doc
6 Recent Publications of Prof. Garth L. Nicolson on Gulf War Illness, CFS [Myalgic Encepthalomyelitis or CFIDS], FMS, Rheumatoid Arthritis (From a Total of 510 Medical/Scientific Publications and 14 Books html doc
7 Politics Interfere with Diagnosis and Treatment of Gulf War Illnesses
Criminal Politics, January 1996; 1: 13-18 html doc
8 The Enemy--From Within
Criminal Politics, October 1996 html doc
9 Gulf War Illness: Finally an Answer
Popular Science Magazine, April 1999 html doc
10 Death of the Anthrax Vaccine Program: Did this and other DoD vaccines cause Gulf War Illnesses? By Garth Nicolson and Mike Williams Soldier of Fortune Magazine 2001 html doc
11 Recommendations for Diagnostic Testing of Gulf War Illnesses by Garth Nicolson html doc
12 Update on Gulf War Illnesses: Relationship to Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E. and the Possible Role of Vaccines By Prof. Garth Nicolson, The Fibromyalgia Survivor, 2001 html doc
TESTIMONIES
1 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson : Mycoplasmal Infections in Gulf War Illnesses
President's Advisory Panel on Gulf War Syndrome, Washington D.C., August 14-16, 1995
html doc
2 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson, Committee On Government Reform And Oversight, Subcommittee on Human Resource and Intergovernmental Relations, United States House Of Representatives, April 2, 1996 html doc
3 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson and Dr. Nancy L. Nicolson, Committee On Government Reform And Oversight, Subcommittee on Human Resource and Intergovernmental Relations, United States House Of Representatives, June 26, 1997 html doc
4 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson Committee Of Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits United States House Of Representatives, July 16, 1998 html doc
5 Written Testimony Of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson Special Oversight Board For Department Of Defense Investigations Of Gulf War Chemical And Bological Incidents U. S. Senate Hart Office Building SH-216, November 19, 1998 html doc
6 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson, House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs and International Relations, United States House of Representatives, January 24, 2002. html doc
7 Written Testimony of Dr. Garth L. Nicolson, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Health, United States House of Representatives, January 24, 2002. html doc
DISCLAIMER: I am
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medical doctor. I am a fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome survivor. The
purpose of this website is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is
presented as food for thought. This information cannot take the place of
professional medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should
come under the direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of
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