Table of Contents
What type of therapy is Maggot therapy?
Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is a form of therapeutic wound treatment in which sterile or disinfected larvae of certain blowfly species are used to remove non-vitalized tissue, pus, slough, and metabolic wastes on the wound and promote healing [1].
Are maggots medicinal?
In these cases, medical maggots are an option. Maggot therapy is not only used on horses, but on small animals as well, with the same general purpose of debriding a wound. Maggot therapy is also used in human medicine, mostly for ulcers and non-healing traumatic or post-surgical wounds.
Are maggots still used in medicine today?
Under medical supervision, maggots debride wounds, or remove damaged and infected tissue. They are still used to treat an array of chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, gangrenous bed sores, and even burns.
How were maggots used in medicine?
The maggots used in medicine are the larvae of shiny, bottle-green blowflies. They hatch from eggs laid on rotting meat, which they promptly tuck into, spitting digestive enzymes onto the meat to liquify it. Then they slurp it up like a rotten meat milkshake.
Is maggot therapy painful?
The most common side effect to maggot therapy is pain at the application site. Patients may actually feel a “nipping” or “picking” sensation that can be painful. This discomfort may be severe enough to require oral analgesics or, in some cases, the patient may request early termination of the treatment.
Can a wound on a patient’s back be treated with maggot therapy?
New research published in the October issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases has found that maggots are useful in treating deep wounds without increasing the risk of further infection. Maggots work because they eat dead tissue (debridement) within the wound, which can promote infection.
Can maggots treat infections?
How much does maggot therapy cost?
A treatment supply of medicinal maggots costs less than $100, but can save thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in medical, surgical and hospital costs.
What is one negative side effect of maggot debridement therapy?
As with other medical modalities, MDT has a number of associated side effects and risks, from localized tissue discomfort, to infection, to the sight of escaping maggots. By far, the most common adverse effect of MDT is significant pain,, with approximately 5\%–30\% of patients reporting this complaint.
Can you buy medical maggots?
You need a prescription. To obtain hygienic maggots, one first needs a doctor’s prescription. The maggots can then be ordered from a company that breeds medical-grade maggots, such as Monarch Labs of Irvine, Calif., where Sherman is the laboratory director.