Tropical Ulcer: Causes, Symptoms, and Best Treatments for Quick Healing

Imagine how it feels to lead a life with an open sore on the feet or lower leg that is heavily painful and troublesome, preventing you from being active and making you dependent on someone. This condition is a tropical ulcer often caused by diabetes. It needs a proper diagnosis and treatment, as the sore enlarges rapidly, worsening the situation. Tropical ulcers primarily affect individuals who live in hot and humid regions. Over 16 to 22% of the population globally gets affected by this condition. This condition requires timely diagnosis and treatment, so finding a trustworthy and reliable diabetologist consultant is more important. If not appropriately treated, the condition can lead to several other serious complications over an extended period. 

Continue reading this blog to learn more about tropical ulcer symptoms and effective treatment methods. It thoroughly provides you with the required information on tropical ulcer management. 

Tropical Ulcer Causes: 

• It all starts with a minor skin trauma, injury, infection, or even a small scratch or cut. Not to exaggerate, even an insect bite can cause tropical ulcers. 

• People in rural areas without proper footwear and unsanitary conditions are easily targeted and at the highest risk of getting affected by this condition. 

• Living in poor hygienic conditions and unsanitized areas that welcome bacterial growth and deadly infections. 

• People with a lower immune system are more prone to wounds, sores, and infections that take longer to heal. 

• Living in hot and humid regions is a cause of tropical ulcers. Poor sanitation conditions and unhygienic factors are the leading causes of tropical ulcers. Individuals with causes of tropical ulcers. Individuals’ poor sanitation conditions and unhygienic factors are the main tropical ulcers. Which individuals showing these signs should be more careful? 

Tropical Ulcer Symptoms:

• Tropical ulcers often start as minor bumps, blisters, or cysts that eventually grow large, swollen, and red, with edges that turn purple. 
• The open sore gets broader and more profound, and causes annoying pain when treatment is delayed. 
• Inflamed and matured swollen edges due to a dead tissue condition (Necrotic) 
• When the issue is present for a long time, an uneasy foul smell is released in case of infections. 
• Pinching and prickling pain/sensation around the area of the sore. 
• As the infection gets more profound and severe, mild fever and other general discomforts are possible. 

Tropical Ulcer Prevention:

• Awareness of self-hygiene and sanitation is the key to preventing tropical ulcers and other terrible and complicated foot injuries and infections. 
• Incorporating a nutritious and balanced meal, with required animal proteins. This improves the immune system and leads to faster recovery. 
• Drinking sufficient water (3 liters a day) 
• Wear protective footwear as suggested by your diabetes doctor. Avoid footwear with hard sole areas and tight straps and buckles. 
• Maintain good foot hygiene by washing the foot daily with clean water and not forgetting to dry it. 
• Clean, disinfect, and dress the wound by a trusted medical assistant with proper medical guidance 
• Avoid walking barefoot on muddy, stony, wet, unclean, and hard surface floors. 
• Be cautious of insect bites. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in most rural areas. In such cases, use repellent creams and essential oils, and make the affected area airy to avoid further contamination. 
• If the bad condition persists without showing signs of healing, visit a health care provider immediately. 

Tropical Ulcer Diagnosis: 

Bacterial infections are often the root cause of tropical ulcers. Hence, the medical professional identifies the bacteria present through wound swabs, blood tests, and wound diagnosis to rule out the cause of the tropical ulcer. 

Tropical Ulcer Treatment: 

Once the health care provider diagnoses the tropical ulcer, the treatment begins.

• Wound management, like daily cleaning and care with antiseptic liquid solutions like saline, etc. 
• Removal of dead tissue (necrotic debriment). 
• Maintaining the moisture of the wound by regular dressing. 
• The severity of the wound and culture results determine the internal (oral) and external (topical) antibiotics. 
• Including high protein and vitamin-rich foods, such as vitamin C, iron, and zinc. 
• Medications like analgesics are used to alleviate pain. 
• Wearing proper and supportive footwear can help avoid further worsening of the wound. 

Surgical Solutions: 

If the ulcer is developing more aggressively or is not healing with conventional treatment methods, the healthcare provider may need to perform surgical operations like skin grafting or reconstructive surgery. Be it diagnosis or treatment, Dr. Durai is the best doctor for diabetes to handle and treat the conditions with utmost care and professionalism. 

Why Trust Dr. Durai? 

With over 10 years of experience as the best diabetes doctor, Dr. Durai has saved over 10,000 feet from amputation through accurate diagnosis and supervision, earning the trust of numerous diabetic patients. 

For more information about diabetes treatment and foot care, visit https://drduraisdiabeticcare.com/ and explore our diabetes care blogs to make your diabetes journey more manageable and stress-free. 

Visit Dr. Durai’s Diabetes & Diabetic Foot Care Specialities Center for treatment appointments. For queries and further clarification on diabetic foot care, please email us at dr.duraisdiabetes@gmail.com.