Maggot therapy

Pronunciation: /MAG-ot ther-AP-ee/

Category: Treatment

Plural: Maggot therapies

Definition

A medical treatment that involves the use of sterile fly larvae (typically calliphorids) to clean and promote healing of wounds.

Etymology

From the Middle English 'maggot', meaning 'worm' or 'larva', combined with 'therapy' from the Ancient Greek 'therapeia', meaning 'healing'.

Example

Maggot therapy was used by military surgeons during Napoleon's time to clean wounds and promote healing.

Related Terms

Wound healing
Debridement
Antimicrobial

Usage Notes

Maggot therapy is generally limited to non-acute external wounds that have failed conventional treatment. It should be performed by trained medical professionals.