Infectious Diseases
There were a number of infectious diseases that were present in the war zone. However, medical records showed that these diseases were not much of an issue for troops, especially since personnel took precautionary measures. Yet, we cannot overlook the fact that many infectious agents will lay dormant for a number of years before causing an illness, even acute ones.
Some infectious diseases include malaria, sand-fly fever, and another unique disease linked to deployment during the Gulf War, known as Leishmaniasis. The disease known as Leishmaniasis is parasitic and originally found in sections of the subtropics, tropics, and in southern Europe. The disease has a number of forms, but the main one is transmitted through the bite of a female phlebotomine sand fly.
Biological Warfare
Another potential cause of Gulf War Syndrome would be exposure to biological weapons. Although evidence of biological factors being present has yet to be revealed, there is no reason to overlook this as a potential cause. During the time of the Gulf War, Iraqi extremist groups were experimenting with a devastating biological weapon known as anthrax, which came into play several years later during the War on Terror post 9-11.
Another possibility that cannot be overlooked is the use of bio-toxins in Iraq. A bio-toxin is produced by a living organism, like bacteria. For instance, endotoxins, which are emitted whenever a cell dies, are sometimes responsible for effects similar to those of toxins or chemical warfare and will not cause any infectious disease.
