Maggots and Flies Help Heal Wounds
Insects, such as maggots, are beneficial to healing wounds. They produce a slime that contains enzymes that break down dead tissue. Surgeons have been using maggot slime for centuries to treat wounds. Researchers have discovered that the maggot larvae contain compounds that help the body heal itself.
This treatment, which is also known as maggot debridement therapy, is used for a variety of purposes. It helps debride a wound, disinfect it, and promote faster healing. The maggots are applied on the wound in a bag or loose dressing. It is an effective treatment for wounds that are not responding to other forms of treatment.
The concept of applying maggots to a wound was first studied in the Great War when antiseptic tools were not adequate. During the war, the number of soldiers who died of open wounds was high. During the war, a French surgeon noticed that war wounds with maggots tended to heal better than those without them. After a few years, other physicians realized the potential of maggot therapy and started using it in hospitals.
The larvae of some species of flies can enter the body through an insect bite, which can cause myiasis. Fortunately, the disease is rarely fatal, but if the larvae penetrate the wound, they can become infected. The flies that are known to cause myiasis can be prevented by using insect repellents, mosquito nets, and window screens.