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I’m A Celebrity: What is trench foot, which may rule Matt Hancock out of some challenges?-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro
He may be exempt from some challenges.
Matt Hancock is entering the jungle but might not be able to compete in every challenge (Picture: REX/Getty)
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! returns to ITV on Sunday (November 6), and earlier this week we got the huge reveal that Matt Hancock would be going into the jungle.
The Conservative MP, 44, resigned as Health Secretary in June 2021 after being recorded on video breaking his own social distancing advice during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now he’s journeying to Australia to face bush tucker trials alongside fellow campmates Charlene White, Danny Miller, and Jill Scott, despite the fact that he’s still a sitting Tory MP.
But according to reports, there’s a chance Hancock might be exempt from some of the live trials, as he is reportedly suffering from trench foot, which may leave him unable to compete in some events.
But what trench foot, and how will it keep him out of the trials?
What is trench foot?
Hancock picked up the condition while filming for Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins (Picture: Jeff Overs/PA)
Trench foot is the name given to a medical condition that affects the feet when they become damaged or infected due to prolonged exposure to cold, damp, or unsanitary conditions.
The condition primarily homeless people and members of the military, and was described as far back as 1812 when it was mentioned in reports of Napoleon’s retreat from Russia during a harsh winter.
It was named as such because soldiers often picked up the condition while fighting in trench warfare, and was widespread throughout the first World War between 1914 and 1918.
What are the symptoms of trench foot?
Hancock might still have to do the infamous ‘bush tucker’ trials (Picture: Christopher Furlong – WPA/Getty)
You know when you’ve been in a bath or a swimming pool for too long and your feet and hands get all wrinkly and slippery? Imagine that but significantly worse, and with added tingling and numbness for good measure.
Trench foot can also cause itching and pain, and may even cause the feet to become blue or red based on how much blood supply they receive. As the condition worsens, feet can start to smell of decay.
Eventually, blisters and open sores can form, leading to infections. Matt Hancock apparently picked up the condition while filming SAS: Who Dares Wins, which will air on Channel 4.
How is trench foot treated?
Cheeky TV duo Ant & Dec will be back in Australia for the new series (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
The first thing you must do after contracting trench foot is to make sure your feet stay clean and dry as much as possible. This might involve changing your socks more than once per day and regularly using talcum powder.
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Feet should also be kept elevated so that air can reach them, and, rather ironically, any moisturising creams can also help with healing.
If the foot cannot be healed, there are medical procedures that can stop the infection from spreading. Debridement allows surgeons to remove the infected tissue without removing limbs, while in some cases amputation may be necessary.
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