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Rheumatic diseases among Civil War troops.
1Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Arthritis and Rheumatism
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Rheumatism affected over 160,000 Civil War soldiers, with acute rheumatic fever being a primary cause. Chronic rheumatism, likely prolonged rheumatic fever and reactive arthritis, led to over 12,000 discharges.
Area of Science:
- Medical History
- Rheumatology
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Extensive medical records exist for Federal Civil War troops.
- Rheumatic conditions were prevalent and a significant health concern for soldiers.
Observation:
- Over 160,000 cases of "acute rheumatism" were recorded, primarily caused by acute rheumatic fever.
- Infectious arthritides were common but poorly understood; gout was rare.
- "Chronic rheumatism" diagnoses exceeded 246,000.
Findings:
- Prolonged rheumatic fever and reactive arthritis post-dysentery were likely primary causes of chronic rheumatism.
- Over 12,000 soldiers were discharged due to chronic rheumatism, with many diagnosed with "lumbago," possibly spondylarthropathy.
Implications:
- Understanding historical rheumatic disease prevalence provides insight into long-term health impacts on military populations.
- These findings highlight the diagnostic challenges and potential misclassifications of rheumatic conditions in the 19th century.
- The data underscores the significant burden of rheumatic diseases on military readiness and veteran health.