Gulf War Illness

Gulf War Illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), is a term used for unexplained illnesses occurring in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War in Southwest Asia. According to the Institute of Medicine in 2013, about one-third of Gulf War veterans suffer from chronic multisymptom illness (CMI). Science News summary of June 29, 2016 states: "Veterans of the Gulf War are more than twice as likely to have medically unexplained symptoms known as "multisymptom illness" (MSI), compared to Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans, according to an updated research."

Symptoms
The US Department of Veterans Affairs has a list on Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses.
 * Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome            (ME/CFS) with long-term severe fatigue.
 * Fibromyalgia characterized by widespread muscle pain and may include insomnia, morning stiffness, headache, and memory problems.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders
A group of conditions marked by chronic or recurrent symptoms related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Functional condition refers to an abnormal function of an organ, without a structural alteration in the tissues.
 * functional abdominal pain syndrome
 * functional dyspepsia (indigestion)
 * irritable bowel syndrome

Undiagnosed illnesses
These symptoms may be connected to undiagnosed illnesses.
 * abnormal weight loss
 * cardiovascular disease
 * fatigue
 * headache
 * joint pain
 * menstrual disorders
 * muscle and joint pain
 * neurological and psychological problems
 * respiratory disorders
 * skin conditions
 * sleep dysfunction

Other symptoms

 * dizziness


 * memory problems

Cause of illness
The National Veterans Foundation lists several possibilities as causation which include depleted uranium, sarin gas, smoke from burning oil wells, vaccinations, combat stress and psychological factors. The Environmental Illness Resource also list decontamination solutions, pesticides and more.

Research conclusions
The Conclusions and Recommendations of the Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Research Update and Recommendations, 2009-2013 conclude "exposure to pesticides and pyridostigmine bromide are causally associated with Gulf War illness" as well as other hazardous exposures including gas agents sarin/cyclosarin. "Mixed exposures include not only mixtures of chemicals but also chemicals combined with heat, dehydration, infection and other environmental stressors."

Vaccinations
Vaccinations have been proposed as an etiological factor in Gulf War Illness, especially the mass vaccinations given prior to military deployment.

Vaccination in the presence of elevated cortisol levels can drive cytokine expression toward TH2 dominance.

Risk of developing other conditions
The US Department of Veteran's Affairs found that "1990-1991 Gulf War deployment is associated with an increased risk for ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, skin conditions, and dyspepsia."

Learn more

 * 2008, Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans Scientific Findings and Recommendations
 * 2015, GULF WAR RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017


 * 2016, Testing nine potential treatments for Gulf War Illness pain and fatigue
 * Vaccine
 * Wikipedia