My friend got pricked by a thorn from on old rotten tree, and it got really infected. It is all swollen, and the doctor didn't do anything for it.
2007-06-09 08:09:42 · 11 answers · asked by ashley 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
Although putting leaches on your skin is not a normal medical practice, it is useful when there is swelling due to an impact injury, like a black eye for example. Leeches attach themselves to whatever spot you put them with their circular shaped head and will remove only enough blood to sustain them, then they will drop off.
They are not ticks, so they wont burrow into your skin. Nor do they eat dead tissue, or are used to get rid of gangrene, maggots are. A leech would not be my first choice for your friends injury, I reccomend soaking the injured area in hot water mixed with Epsom Salts, this relieves pain, and the Epsom Salts draw out infection. I hope this helps you, and your friend.
2007-06-09 09:14:11 · answer #1 · answered by Raez 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the doctor didn't think it was infected it probably wasn't. A bad infection would cause a fever, she may just have something like poison ivy or oak. That's not an infection it's a rash or irritation of the skin. Leeches were and are used on skin that is decaying like when someone has gangrene not for an infection. Leeches eat only dead skin that's why they are used when the skin is dying. If the irritants doesn't go way soon have your friend use aloe Vera or some kind of hidrcordsone cream. That will help ease the irritation.
2007-06-09 08:19:18 · answer #2 · answered by Kathryn R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And why is it this doctor won't treat an infection?
Some doctors have been experimenting with leeches to treat diabetic ulcers, with some success. (The problem with diabetic ulcers is that the blood supply is bad. Putting a leech on it brings fresh blood through the ulcer, which helps with healing.)
You could try it (I don't know if a leech would like the taste of puss, but you could try it). They are hard to remove, though. Dousing it with rubbing alcohol or salt should work. If that fails, put a hot object on its head (something too small to burn your friend). After the treatment, wash the area well and cover it.
Don't let it fester into a huge abscess. This can wind up being very painful, can cause damage to bone and nerves, and can cause septicemia (blood infection). If she develops a fever with this infection, get her to an ER.
2007-06-09 08:20:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're talking about a leech grown in the wild, NO: Those will worsen the infection.
Wash the area well with soap and water, douse it with alcohol, then put an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin on it. And get another doctor to look at it. I can't believe that a qualified practitioner would just ignore an infection!
2007-06-09 12:13:33 · answer #4 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't use leeches. If it is an infection, it has probably gone too far into the blood stream for a leech to do anything. But since the doctor didn't do anything, it's probably not serious.
Just make sure to keep an eye on it. If it gets any worse, go see a doctor immidiately.
And if it's really bothering your friend, you can always go and get a second oppinion.
2007-06-09 11:58:27 · answer #5 · answered by Genni 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
each and every so often enthusiastic definite, each and every so often not plenty. On YA we many times locate definite/no, black/white questions. certainty is unlike that various the time. Enlightenment facilitates with healing because of the fact the self tale gets out of how. Enlightenment is whilst (between different issues) not greater self tale arises. And the self is a sizable obstruction to healing, the two healing self or healing different. healing nevertheless occurs. some selves nevertheless appear yet step aside so as that the Immensity manifests and healing occurs. you are able to look up " John of God " an particularly good occasion of this phenomena. The Buddha replaced into not attracted to human beings's present day subject plenty, finding greater to their recurrent varieties lifetime-after-lifetime, yet even he acted to help others who suffered from ailment. a lot of human beings as we communicate go through extraordinarily and would not in the event that they practiced the path to Elightenment. Are they inquisitive approximately healing others ? relies upon on their " karma" previous strikes on the subject of healing others. Enlightenment is the terrific healing. not something could be defined in words previous this. Wikijo has had the stable fortune to fulfill many that, in the event that they weren't actual enlightened, got here so close that Wikijo himself ought to not tell how close they have been. All of those human beings enjoyed remarkable wellness. What wellness matters could have assailed them did not disturb them nor did they pay any interest to such issues. could you be so fortunate. Peace.
2016-11-27 20:20:10 · answer #6 · answered by galle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not normal ones.
The ones that are used for medical reasons are grown and bred in sterile environments.
They are only used under strict medical supervision.
It sounds like your friend just needs antibiotics.
2007-06-09 08:27:00 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't ever put leeches o your skin. Those things suck your blood and they can crawl into your skin.
2007-06-09 08:15:25 · answer #8 · answered by Love 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is very good but do it in a clinic,there are some clinics who have them for this purpose
2007-06-12 21:47:23 · answer #9 · answered by jammal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont do it! they such your blood and they can get stuck inside of your skin!
2007-06-09 12:08:45 · answer #10 · answered by xALEXANDRA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋