Help me solve my dad's mystery pilot illness
My father-in-law was a Pan Am pilot who used to fly mostly international routes on all the Boeing planes. On one of his trips, he was flying Laos, Africa, routes, back in 1965/66, and he got some sort of disease. It is characterized by general body weakness, chills, fever, gasping for breath, skin gets very red/hot to touch, and lasts for about 10 days-2 weeks start to finish. After the red is all gone, the skin starts to peel off. This recurs on a sporadic basis, about 2-3 times a year. He's been to all sorts of doctors who have been unable to classify this or treat it with any effectiveness.
I'm wondering if any other pilots out there have gotten anything similar or know of anyone who has. I have to believe he's not the only one who contracted something like this, but if there were more data points, perhaps someone can find a cure.
Anyone have any insight? Anyone have anything similar that he/she attributes to international trips?