During their period of service in Southeast Asia, many veterans unknowingly risked contracting various tropical diseases: leprosy, ringworm, impetigo, etc.  Unfortunately, those serving our nation's interests in southeast Asia were not privy to this information until they became afflicted with one of these maladies.  Those afflicted with such diseases were clinically treated in the field or returned to the field after clinical treatment in a military hospital.  In many instances, when these veterans returned home, these diseases would again manifest themselves in the form of rashes.  These veterans would apply for treatment in the Veterans Administration hospitals for their adverse skin conditions.  The treatment would often be of the type to provide  relief; i.e. the prescription of balms, salves, or ointments and in extreme cases, 'pain killers.'

     One particular type of skin affliction manifested itself in the form of oozing circular rashes, especially during hot, humid weather.  The Veterans who suffered from this particular type of complaint were given the usual treatment yet were not authorized to receive any form of disability as it was 'considered' to be a result of exposure to dioxin (Agent Orange).  More substantive treatment was not given nor diagnosis rendered because any affliction considered to be a result of exposure to dioxin was the responsibility of the Dow Chemical Company.

    The affliction in question is symptomatically similar to that resulting from exposure to dioxin and its consequences can be equally or more dreadful.  The affliction to which we refer is a tropical disease called Filariasis.

    Filariasis is caused and transmitted from host to host, by the bite of a mosquito that carries microscopic worm larvae in it's blood pouch.  Once in the host's blood, the thread-like worms instinctively spread to the lymphatic system where they breed and die clogging the surrounding vessels.  Filarial infestation can lead to elephantiasis - where the legs, arms, breasts and scrotum engorge with lymph fluid, sometimes swelling enormously.  It also cripples the immune system if left untreated...