Back necrosis, critical because of applying leaves to treat boils

On January 14, a representative of Quang Binh Friendship Hospital said the patient’s health had stabilized after 10 days of intensive treatment. Doctors surgically removed necrotic tissue, made incisions to remove pus, and used high doses of antibiotics to control the infection. The damaged area is showing new skin, showing good signs of recovery.

Previously, on January 5, a patient residing in Phong Nha commune was hospitalized with high fever, fatigue and severe back pain. Paraclinical test results showed a very high index of infection.

At the injury site, doctors noted a deep necrotic ulcer measuring 4×4 cm, surrounded by a red inflammatory area 10×10 cm wide that was showing signs of spreading. The treatment team determined that if not intervened promptly, the infection would spread to the bloodstream, causing multi-organ failure (liver, kidney, brain) and threatening the patient’s life.

According to the family, the patient initially only had small pimples on his back. Even though she was given antibiotics by the commune health station, after only two days of taking the medicine, she voluntarily stopped treatment as prescribed and switched to folk remedies.

She picked leaves from the garden including hibiscus, life, shame, mui, wind plant, mixed with garlic and salt, crushed them and applied them directly to the pimples. Two days after applying the tobacco, the patient’s back area rapidly swelled, ulcers, pus flowed, and pain spread throughout the body. Her family panicked and took her to the emergency room when they saw her condition worsen.

Doctor Vo Nhat Nam, Department of Surgery – Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, recommends that people absolutely not use leaves or folk remedies that have not been scientifically proven to apply to open wounds. This creates conditions for bacteria to invade, causing simple diseases to become serious, making treatment difficult and leaving many health sequelae.