Experts highlight Maggot Therapy in healing of chronic wounds
By Stanley Nwanosike
Medical experts have highlighted the use of Maggot Therapy, medically known as larval debridement therapy, to promote healing of chronic wounds.
They said that the therapy, which is the introduction of sterile maggots (laboratory certified fly larvae) into chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores, could break down dead tissues.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is a biotherapy involving the introduction of live, disinfected maggots into non-healing skin and soft-tissue wounds of a human or animal for the purpose of cleaning out dead tissue.
The maggots also eliminate bacterial/microorganisms and promote healthy tissue growth, leading to healing of wound.
Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu, a Professor of Public Health Medicine, told NAN on Monday in Enugu that the practice, however, needed more research and experiments before being acclaimed medically worldwide.
Ndibuagu, who is with Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, said he is aware that the therapy had been tried in some medical facilities in the country.
He noted that there had been reported usage of the therapy in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
He said, “I doubt if any medical facility or teaching hospital is applying the therapy in southern part of the country, especially in the Southeast.”
Ndibuagu, who is an online health life coach, warned that the therapy is only allowed to be tried by a medical specialist in wound care and healing.
The don added that “the therapy must strictly follow medical protocols and guidelines.
“It should not be tried by a non-specialist or individuals on their own at home or in a non-certified medical facility.
“It is necessary to consult a healthcare professional who is a specialist in wound care for proper assessment before applying the clinically-assessed (sterile) maggots.
“This is to ensure that the type and nature of the maggot introduced don’t end up infecting the wound with other microorganisms.”
On his part, Dr Celestine Ugwoke, a general medicine practitioner, said the use of maggot therapy to cure chronic wounds had gained vast usage in the northern part of the country.
Ugwoke noted that some medical facilities in Kano State today use the therapy.
He added that “yes, I believe in research, but use of debridement therapy (maggot therapy) has been long in use in some parts of the world.
“It is more of a practical thing and does not involve lengthy clinical procedures or research,” Ugwoke, who is the immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State Chapter, said.
He said that the maggots used are sterile, which are incubated in the laboratory and certified to be not carrying bacteria or other microorganisms in them before being medically used.
“It is applied just the way pure honey is being used to dress wounds and improve healing; and I believe it is cost effective,” Ugwoke said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
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