Advancements in the field science and technology is really moving at a high speed. The field of medical sciences is not left out. There are a lot of advancements in the medical field due to the surge in diseases such cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Due to these advancements, many unconventional treatment methods of diseases have evolved.
Today, we are discuss one of such unconventional methods.
Have you heard of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT)?
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What is Maggot Debridement Therapy?
Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) is a clinical method for wound treatment (or healing) using maggots. It involves the introduction of live, disinfected maggots (fly larvae) into the non-healing skin and soft tissue wound(s) of a human or animal for the purpose of cleaning out the necrotic (dead) tissue within a wound (debridement) and disinfection.
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Image Source: Wikipedia.org
How Can Maggot Heal Wound?
Maggot which is the larva form of house fly, feed primarily decomposing matters. Hence when introduced into a wound, it feed on the decaying tissues as well the infected tissues leaving the healthy tissues behind. In addition the maggots also release enzymes which stimulate growth of new tissues and also dissolve biofilms (is a collection of microbial cells that form on the surface of wounds, making it difficult for antimicrobial agents to enter).
What Kinds of Wounds Can be Treated Using MDT?
Not all wound-types are suitable: wounds which are dry, or open wounds of body cavities do not provide a good environment for maggots to feed.
MDT is ideal for non healing wounds, such as Pressure ulcers (bed sores), venous stasis ulcers (common in people with leg swelling, varicose veins, or blood clots), neuropathic foot ulcers (often found in diabetics), post-surgery wounds, or traumatic injury wounds.
How Fast is MDT?
MDT heals wound really fast than the conventional treatment. However, studies have shown that maggot therapy worked wonders for wounds during the first week of treatment, resulting to faster disappearance of dead tissue than conventional treatment. But this reduced the second week, which suggests maggot therapy may work best as a first-line wound treatment.
How Effective is MDT?
About 80-95% of wounds treated with maggot therapy achieve a complete or significant Debridement (removal of the dead or infected tissue). This is one of its major strongpoints, as dead tissue is effectively removed while live tissue is unharmed and often improved.
Is MDT Safe?
MDT is very safe if all procedures necessary are followed. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of MDT.
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