Jungle rot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Jungle rot" is military jargon for fungal foot infection that is typically contracted in tropical climates.

The symptoms themselves are caused by the least common form of athlete's foot, producing painful sores on the top of the feet. These are caused by an allergic reaction, technically called an id reaction, to the fungus itself, Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Sores may also form on other parts of the body as the infection progresses, most commonly the chest, arms, and sides of the fingers. Topical antifungal creams and sprays are usually used to treat jungle rot when it arises.

Jungle rot also refers to the degradation of tents and uniforms experienced in World War II by soldiers in the Pacific; the microbe erodes the natural fibers of fabric. The related fungus Trichoderma reesei is being researched as a way to create a renewable ethanol fuel source by the Ottawa-based company Iogen.