3:00 a.m. - 2010-03-22
acupuncuture and resources about your health
Acupuncture can spread deadly illnesses :
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Acupuncture can spread threatening illnesses :
Acupuncture could lead to transmission of bacterial diseases, hepatitis B and C and doubtless HIV through contaminated needles, cotton swabs and hot compresses, gurus said on friday.
In an editorial made public in the English Medical book, microbiologists at the school of hong kong said the number of reported infections linked with acupuncture when everybody was just'the end of the iceberg' and called for more control measures.
'To stop infections transmitted by acupuncture, you have to implement measures like use of throwaway needles, disinfection procedures of the skin and aseptic techniques,' wrote the researchers, led by Patrick Woo, professor of microbiology at the university.
Acupuncture is a type of alternative drugs used in the world and is based on the concept that inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific body points toward help in promoting the flow of energy or'Qi'.
The practice has its origins in traditional China and became a extremely accepted in the West in latest decades, especially for agony management. It is also used for conditions like body weight issues bowel obstruction and arthritis, among others, although systematic proof on their effects is unfinished.
Woo and his team asserted the method can be dangerous because the needles are inserted several centimeters below the skin and warned of a new syndrome : Acupuncture mycobacteriosis.
'This is an infection caused by a mycobacterium that grows rapidly around the point of insertion of acupuncture through the utilization of swabs, towels or compresses tarnished. There's a long incubation period, but the infection produces large abscesses and ulcers,' wrote the team.
'So far over 50 cases described around the planet. A lot of them ( ... ), the bacterium was broadcast from the skin flora of the patient or the environment due to inadequate disinfection before acupuncture'he added.
though most patients get over these bacterial diseases between 5 and ten per cent of reported cases finish up with major problems like joint elimination, organ failure, paralysis and flesh-eating bacteria.
There were at least five cases of outbreaks of hepatitis B associated with acupuncture.
In most cases, sources were patients infected and the pathogen was transmitted thru dirty needles, although in one particular case the reason for infection was the acupuncturist related.
The document also suggested the possibility of transmission of hepatitis C and HIV thru acupuncture.
Source: health news
Acunpucture and health
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