I almost threw up when I saw his mouth full of leeches.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Removal of the leech
Salt, salt water or vinegar will cause an actively sucking leech to vomit and fall off. A leech will usually fall off after 20 minutes of attachment without any treatment.
DO NOT pull the leech off as the skin may be torn and ulceration may follow or parts of the jaw may remain and set up infection. Applying heat to the leech (e.g. applying a hot coal or lit cigarette) may result in burns to the patient so is not recommended.
Treatment
Wash with soap and water.
Apply a cold pack if there is significant pain or swelling.
Apply pressure if there is bleeding from the bite.
Seek medical attention if the area becomes infected or if a wound or ulcer develops.
Even if you have never been bitten by a leech before, watch for the following symptoms, they may indicate a serious allergic or anaphylactic reaction, which requires urgent medical attention:
* red blotches on the skin or an itchy rash over the body
* swelling in parts of the body away from the bitten area, especially the lips and around the eyes
* feeling faint, light-headed or dizzy
* breathing difficulties: wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness
Biologist Jörg Graf researches bacteria in the bellies of bloodsuckers.
Many patients these days suffer from immune system deficiencies. Thus it is important for doctors to know which bacteria live in the blood of a leech before they decide whether to use leeches as medical treatment. It is also important to know which bacteria are in there which prevent infection. As with all living creatures, leeches are not sterile; and are the home of many bacteria. If a leech is squeezed as it is removed from the skin, it may regurgitate into the fresh wound. This can lead to infection. As leech therapy is used more and more, the need for studies of the bacteria in the bellies of the beasts is becoming more and more important.
Until recently it was assumed that leech stomach bacteria were all aerobic; however, new studies point to a richer array of bacterial dwellers. Jörg Graf, a German biologist and researcher at the University of Connecticut, has been studying leeches intensively for years. His team has succeeded in verifying and breeding another breed of bacteria. The new bacteria are anaerobic and propagate only in oxygen-free chambers.
biotherapy with leeches
Patients with arthritis of the knee joint are in constant pain and sometimes even have to take morphine. The regular use of leeches could free 60% of these individuals from pain for at least a few months. To treat such a patient with leeches the doctor places three to 12 of these little vampires on the painful sites and waits until, after about a half an hour, the animals are satiated and fall off.
Are leeches just disgusting or are they useful?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Leeches Cure(from Indian FIles)
leeches suck your blood...but some believe that could be healthy for you