Dozens of dermatologists treated hundreds of Israeli soldiers who served in the current war on Gaza for severe foot infections resulting from months of war and weeks of operational activity without ventilation for the feet.
The Jerusalem Post newspaper – which reported the news – commented on this, saying that the military shoe is a well-closed shoe that adapts to field conditions and aims primarily to protect the foot from bruises, but it does not provide any form of ventilation for the foot at all, and soldiers are sometimes forced to Using the same shoe for several days, and in some cases for two weeks or more.
She added that such an atmosphere creates a “microclimate” of heat and high humidity, which leads to the proliferation of very large quantities of bacteria and fungi that cause infections.
She pointed out that the most common infection among many soldiers is keratolysis, as the bacteria cause a strong unpleasant odor, itching, and the formation of grooves and peeling in the feet, sometimes reaching the point of bleeding.
She explained that soldiers with this infection receive doses of oral antibiotics and topical foot treatment.
The newspaper reported that soldiers also suffer from the appearance of ingrown toenails, a condition that causes severe pain and difficulty in continuing operational activities, and in some cases they are referred for surgery to remove or lift the infiltrated part, with treatment with antibiotics.
In this context, Dr. Eti Sharig, a dermatologist from the Meir Medical Center, was quoted as saying, “The effect of military boots causes excessive sweating, which leads to a high rate of growth of bacteria and fungi in the feet in combat conditions.”
Over time, physical stress and uncomfortable shoes also lead to the nail entering the foot, and the body recognizes the nail as a foreign body, causing a very painful inflammatory process that may develop into an infection.
Sharij urged doctors to be careful to treat soldiers urgently when the first signs of infection appear, before they spread and cause foot injury, pain, and complications, and before the infection worsens and becomes serious.
