Nurse, the maggots [UK hospitals use of maggots for healing wounds]

The Times (UK) ^ | March 12, 2007 | by Peta Bee

[Cementjungle]

So that's what they do with all those laid-off MSM reporters.

[pillut48]

Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conference...;-)

[AnnaZ]

Of course, there is a glaring downside to maggot therapy, and one that may prove an impenetrable barrier to its mainstream use — namely the “yuck” factor.

No kidding... BARF!

[seekthetruth]

LOL! It is true that maggots eat only dead flesh, and can actually clean a wound better than can be done otherwise. Just isn't something I would want to go through though!

[cherry]

I once witnessed the grossest thing in the world:.....grown up maggots escaping the wound and finding their way all over the genitalia of a young man....even saw a few in his foley bag but was told that THAT was impossible....(not)

[Cicero]

The hell with the yuck factor. If it works, I'm all in favor. Just think of them as Mother's Little Helpers.

[SmoothTalker]

The joys of Government health care.

[AZLiberty]

Ewww, I wouldn't want John Edwards sucking on my wounds.

[ExSES]

Of course, there is a glaring downside to maggot therapy, and one that may prove an impenetrable barrier to its mainstream use — namely the “yuck” factor.

Not to mention the MAJOR barrier..., there's no large profits to the drug industry for raising maggots!

[pandoraou812]

ping

[kaboom]

If you had to get rid of some dead flesh, I would bet that after one day you would get over the yuk factor. The desire to heal the problem would rule out over the alternative to undergo a lengthy treatment, even with painkillers and meds. Consider the yuk factor of having rotting flesh with you 24x7. It's amazing what the mind can overcome under duress.

[TheBattman]

I think I could tolerate such therapy as long as I didn't have to see it... I think anything that reduces the cost of medical care, while actually being better at fixing the problem is a good idea.

[Yardstick]

Our little friend, the maggot.

[Cicero]

Some other interesting stuff in the article, too.

"Another creepy-crawly gaining popularity among doctors is the parasitic helminth worm. These, unlike other parasitic worms, do not cause disease or invade other body parts. A 2004 study in the journal Gut found that patients with Crohn’s disease who swallowed a worm for a 24-week period showed significant improvement."

[pandoraou812]

MRSA is very hard to treat. I have a friend who can not get rid of it. My brother died of it and other complications. I think its a great idea. Years ago leeches were used too. If it works and it does a good job then I would try it. I would feel grossed out but when you think of the sponges etc doctors have left in people I think I trust the maggots more.

[SkyPilot]

Sounds like that SNL skit from 30 years ago with Steve Martin - "Theodoric of York, Medievel Barber."

"Put another leach on her forehead."

[Buck W.]

"...and slash the cost from £2,200 to £300 per patient."

Even £300 seems high for a maggot treatment.

[MarkL]

I've often wondered if this sort of therapy could also help curb necrosis... For instance, if the 'lil critters could stop the spread of dead flesh, either in the case of the "flesh eating bacteria," or with certain sorts in envenomations, like being bitten by a brown recluse spider.

Mark

[null and void]

Leaches are still used. They are very therapeutic for reattached tissues, their saliva promotes blood flow to the reattached tissue and they drain off excess fluids that interfere with healing and cause that throbbing pressure related pain.

They also inject their own pain killers.