Thai vendor nearly dies after shingles treated with folk remedy
Doctors warn against unproven practices after life-threatening case
A vegetable vendor in Prachuap Khiri Khan was hospitalised after using a folk remedy for shingles, which led to severe blisters and a dangerous blood infection.
A 39 year old vegetable vendor in Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, has shared her near-death ordeal after a traditional treatment for shingles spiralled into a life-threatening infection.
The woman, identified only as A, said the ordeal began earlier this month when shingles appeared on her neck and behind her ears. Initially, she self-medicated with over-the-counter drugs, but when her symptoms persisted, she turned to a traditional healer on a friend’s advice.
The treatment involved chewing betel leaves while chanting a spell and spraying the mixture onto the blisters.
“That evening, I felt burning pain all over my body and developed a high fever.”
For the next week, she relied on painkillers, but her condition worsened as blisters spread across her body.
By the time she visited a nearby clinic, both legs were swollen and red. Staff refused to treat her, warning that she was already suffering from an infection. Unable to move on her own, she called the 1669 emergency hotline and was rushed to Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital.
Doctors diagnosed her with a severe blood infection.
“If I had come any later, I would have gone into shock.”
The woman said that her fever had spiked to 39.2°C. She was admitted to the emergency ward, placed on an intravenous drip, and treated with antiviral and antibacterial medication. After a week of care, her fever subsided, and her sores began to dry and scab, reported Amarin TV.
“This is an expensive lesson, nearly costing me my life due to incorrect treatment. Those suffering from shingles should seek hospital care. The treatment is targeted, effective and safe: much better than relying on unproven beliefs.”
Dr Thanakorn Saranphinyo, Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Public Health Officer, explained that shingles and herpes are caused by viruses in the same family. While not usually fatal, the condition leaves the skin vulnerable to bacterial infection.
“If the infection is severe, it can spread through the bloodstream and cause serious complications.”
He stressed that early diagnosis is key, as modern antiviral medicines can control the disease within 7 to 14 days.
“Although shingles cannot be completely cured, proper treatment can keep it in remission and prevent severe symptoms.”
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