A PSEUDO-OUTBREAK OF SKIN-DISEASE IN BRITISH TROOPS

When a newspaper report claimed that a serious outbreak of skin diseas e had occurred in British Army troops stationed at the Bocac Dam, in w estern Bosnia, all troops at the Bocac Dam location (n=96), followed b y a matched control group of troops (n=91) at a nearby location, were examined by two investigators, 14% of the study population and 21% of the control group were found to have skin disorders. Most were complai nts that are commonly encountered in general medical practice. There w as a striking absence of skin infestations. The historical consultatio n rate for skin disorders had not increased, It was concluded that an outbreak of skin disease had not occurred in British troops guarding t he dam. This epidemiological study shows that, even under conditions o f modern field hygiene, up to one in five soldiers wilt have skin dise ase, Skin infestations, however, have become progressively less common during military campaigns this century, probably because of better pe rsonal hygiene, good preventive medicine practices and better access t o effective health care.