214 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
BED SORES (PRESSURE SORES)
These chronic open sores appear in persons so ill they cannot roll over in bed,
especially in sick old persons who are very thin and weak. The sores form over bony
parts of the body where the skin is pressed against the bedding. They are most often
seen on the buttocks, back, shoulders, elbows, or feet.
For a more complete discussion of pressure sores, see Disabled Village Children,
Chapter 24, or A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities, pages 114 to 117.
How to prevent bed sores:
♦ Turn the sick person over every hour: face up, face down, side to side.
♦ Bathe him every day and rub his skin with baby oil.
♦ Use soft bed sheets and padding. Change them daily and each time the bedding
gets dirty with urine, stools, vomit, etc.
♦ Put cushions under the person in such a way that the bony parts rub less.
♦ Feed the sick person as well as possible. If he does not eat well, extra vitamins
and iron may help (see p. 118).
♦ A child who has a severe chronic illness should be held often on his mother’s lap.
Treatment:
♦ Do all the things mentioned above.
♦ 3 times a day, wash the sores with cool, boiled water mixed with mild soap.
Gently remove any dead flesh. Rinse well with cool, boiled water.
♦ To fight infection and speed healing, fill the sore with honey, sugar, or molasses.
(A paste made of honey and sugar is easiest to use.) It is important to clean and
refill the sore at least 2 times a day. If the honey or sugar becomes too thin with
liquid from the sore, it will feed germs rather than kill them.