Maggots

[Scotty]

I just caught the end of a show on OLN last night. I think that it was call Wild Survival or something like that. A hunter/hiker was attacked by a bear. His leg was bitten fairly badly. The show said that the mouth of the bear is full of dangerous bacteria. The guys leg got infected so they put maggots on the leg to eat out all of the infection. Well I have heard of using leeches before but not maggots. Whatever works I guess.

Scotty

[Thonzberry]

WOW I never herd of maggots,:throwup-yellow: like you said, leeches I herd of. If it was going to save your leg then bring on the maggots.

[MBullism]

I'd heard of something similar, can't remember if it was burns or what but apparently maggots only eat dead or decayed flesh. ###They put maggots in to eat away the stinky stuff, and supposedly leave more living tissue in place than if the docs had to cut it away.

Hope I never need that kind of help...

M

[lintongb]

I've heard it is fairly common to use maggots to treat people for gangrene.

[paulc]

didnt any of you guys see the movie, gladiator..(the one with russell crowe) ###

[rlwright]

I think it was the ancient egyiptians as well as other cultures thereafter, who used the maggots for medicinal purposes that involved open wounds.

[stickman]

I've used maggot therapy in a hospital I was working at in Newport Beach. The maggots they use are sterile and are purchased from U.C. Irvine. The maggots are used to treat serious deep tissue wounds. The maggots will eat all of the dead/decaying tissue and leave collagen behind which will aid in the healing process. The maggots go into a coccon state after 72 hours and are then rinsed out of the wound.

[Mntngoat]

That Hospital woundn't be Hoag woud it. Live 2 miles from it.

[Bobo]

Leeches are used to get blood flowing, especially to areas that have fingers and what have you reattached and yes as stated maggots are kept on hand at hospitals to eat away at decaying dead flesh, they are normally wrapped, I have been told that you don;t even know they are there feeding on the dead flesh,,

[whitetailfan]

I know a former Navy SEAL who told me once that in survival training they were taught to use maggots for infections in open wounds and to help treat ear infections. At first I thought he was pulling my leg until I saw something on Discovery Ch. about it.