Burnt for the cure – A case of quackery-induced ulcers

A 45-year-old male presented with lesions over his lower back for eight days. Village healer applied cotton buds soaked in the milk of cotton plant on the back for backache (calotropis extract-resinols, cardiac poisons, and calcium oxalate). He lit them and applied turmeric paste. Figure 1a shows multiple ulcers of size 1 × 1 cm with a central yellowish slough, regular margins, and raised borders. Capsule amoxicillin + clavulanic acid 625 mg thrice daily with topical fusidic acid cream twice for 7 days was started. Later, a tablet of pantoprazole 40 mg with tablet prednisolone 30 mg was given which was tapered by 10 mg every 2 days. Complete healing after 7 days was seen [Figure 1b].

Close

Figure 1:

(a) Multiple infected ulcers with regular and raised borders and central slough over the lower back. (b) Healed ulcers with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Export to PPT

Quackery is due to a lack of health education and blind superstitions. Reporting and taking action against them is crucial.^[1] Education on common dermatological entities is the first step in raising awareness.^[2]