Maggots ?

[lathany]

And it appears that the new healing method for infected wounds is maggots.

I'd just like to say Yuck.

Yeah, I'm a squeamish wuss, but this really gives me the creeps. Guess if I were given the choice between amputation and maggots I'd go with the maggots too. But I also have to say that I sincerely hope that day never arrives.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alanna/]

I've heard that it's actually a rather effective treatment.

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

this really gives me the creeps

In that case I'm sure you'll be overjoyed to know that if you count up all the cells in a human body (including the intestinal tract, which arguably is really outside the body), approximately 10% of the cells are human, the remaining 90% being parasites and symbiotes of one kind or another. So what's a few maggots?

Re:

[lathany.livejournal.com]

So what's a few maggots?

Something that ain't supposed to be there.

[unknownid.livejournal.com]

right there with ya on that one. if I'm ever in that position, I devoutly hope that my doctor will be humane enough to prescribe me heavy-duty tranquilizers at the same time, because that's the only way I could imagine not going completely mad during that treatment.

[ealuscerwen.livejournal.com]

I think this is a pretty old method, actually.

Eal.

In modern medicine

[applez.livejournal.com]

Been in use for quite some time. They're actually really good - they only eat dead flesh, so are really good at preventing infection. Also, iirc, with the correct species of maggot, they don't leave 'tailings' which might otherwise promote infection.

Re:

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

What's new isn't the method itself, but the fact that it can be given on prescription, to be applied at home by a suitably-trained visiting nurse. Previously the maggots+maggot-proof-dressing could only be applied in hospitals.