Table 2.
Symptoms in the first, second and third series of Gulf veterans
| 1st series* | 2nd series | 3rd series | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom groups | Gulf veterans (n = 1000) | Gulf veterans (n = 1000) | Gulf veterans (n = 1000) |
| Affective | 498 (50) | 486 (49) | 377 (38) |
| Joints and muscles, aches and pains | 396 (40) | 466 (47) | 305 (31) |
| Fatigue | 421 (42) | 452 (45) | 257 (26) |
| Cognitive | 263 (26) | 411 (41) | 253 (25) |
| Headaches and migraine | 258 (26) | 309 (31) | 172 (17) |
| Sleep difficulties | 216 (22) | 220 (22) | 233 (23) |
| Respiratory | 244 (24) | 233 (23) | 142 (14) |
| Skin lesions | 196 (20) | 217 (22) | 166 (17) |
| GIT | 221 (22) | 204 (20) | 153 (15) |
| Sensory | 115 (12) | 168 (17) | 90 (9) |
| ENT | 153 (15) | 109 (11) | 76 (8) |
| Sweats and fever | 105 (11) | 122 (12) | 87 (9) |
| Weight changes | 99 (10) | 77 (8) | 71 (7) |
| Dizziness, blackouts | 80 (8) | 107 (11) | 49 (5) |
| GU | 114 (11) | 49 (5) | 57 (6) |
| Eyes | 73 (7) | 70 (7) | 52 (5) |
| Colds, flu etc. | 49 (5) | 104 (10) | 37 (4) |
| Alcohol and substance abuse | 61 (6) | 59 (6) | 63 (6) |
| Reproductive | 26 (3) | 41 (4) | 47 (5) |
| Palpitations† | — | 35 (4) | 47 (5) |
| Dental‡ | — | 34 (3) | 26 (3) |
| Not classified/other | 193 (19) | — | — |
| No symptoms | 43 (4) | 115 (12) | 219 (22) |
Values are numbers (percentages)
GIT=gastrointestinal; ENT=ear, nose and throat; GU=genitourinary
§This includes those totally symptomless individuals and those symptomless with known disease
*
The symptom count in the 1st series differs from that of Coker et al.1 because the counts have been reassessed
†
Palpitations for the first series are included in the not classified/other category
‡
Dental symptoms for the first series are included in the not classified/other category