Would you place maggots on an open wound?

by Elsewhere 21 Replies latest jw friends

  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere

    As nasty as it sounds... The theory is sound... I would probably do it.

    *** Experiencing a sudden case of the hebe-jeebies ***

    Find this article at:
    http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/02/23/offbeat.maggots.antibiotics.reut/index.html

    British doctors revive maggot treatment

    LONDON, England (Reuters) --Starting this month, British doctors will be able to prescribe maggots to patients with infected wounds, a hospital official said.

    He said the state National Health Service had realized that maggots were a cheaper and more beneficial way of treating wounds than using conventional medicine.

    Patients would be able to treat themselves at home and avoid the possibility of picking up a hospital infection.

    Maggots have been used for centuries to rid wounds of decaying flesh, but after the discovery of antibiotics their use went into decline.

    "People didn't like the thought of creepy-crawlies on their skin," said Tony Fowler, customer services manager at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales.

    "But now there is a renewed interest because of the problems caused by the over-use of antibiotics, and the NHS has seen the cost-effectiveness of maggots."

    Research at the Princess of Wales Hospital confirmed that placing sterile maggots on wounds could make them heal faster than conventional medicine.

    The creatures devour dead, infected tissue and kill off bacteria that could block the healing process without damaging surrounding tissue, since they cannot ingest healthy flesh.

    Previously, patients could obtain sterile maggots only from certain hospitals and research centers.

  • simplesally
    simplesally

    I'll stick with penicillin!

  • Valis
    Valis

    I would if I had rotting flesh...they have also reintroduced leeches to help stop bleeding and to promote quicker healing.

    Sincerely,

    District Overbeer

  • kls
    kls

    Only if i am in a deep deep coma.They also use leeches for bleeding.They are great blood suckers but i in no way could do it or have it done to me. My first instinct when i see maggots in my garbage can is to get bugspray GROOOOOSE

  • Angharad
    Angharad

    If it was a choice between that and loosing a foot to infection, I'd do it, but I'd probably be sick the whole time

    It would have to be a very very last choice though !

  • onacruse
    onacruse

    Sure, I would. And since my needing to resort to such a therapy would probably be because I was stuck out in the middle of nowhere, possibly with limited food and water supplies, then I'd also have to keep in mind that a person can drink their first pass of urine, and the kidneys will extract additional water from it...2nd and 3rd pass ain't so good though.

  • little witch
    little witch

    Well, maggots are eaters of dead flesh.

    It seems that if removing dead flesh is warranted that this is a viable and natural option.

    EEEWWWWWWWWWW this gives me chicken skin!

  • calamityjane
    calamityjane

    Elsewhere, when you pick a subject like this, make sure the lunch hour is over. I almost lost my lunch.

    Anyway, now that the heebie jeebies have stopped, yes I would use this type of medical technology if there was nothing else. I just wouldn't be able to look anywhere near the wound.

  • onacruse
    onacruse

    I wonder how many of us would make it on "Survivors"? LOL

  • SixofNine
    SixofNine

    Heh, ya got me Elsewhere! I thought this was going to be a discussion of the way elders handle cases of rape.

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