Persian Gulf syndrome, a diffuse collection of symptoms reported by many veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war. Symptoms vary widely, but include fatigue, joint pain, headache, and sleep disturbances. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases are also common. The specific cause is unknown, but explanations include exposure to chemicals from burning oil wells, insecticides, and poisons linked to inoculations against biological warfare or to chemical weapons used by the Iraqi army.
