Black Foot Disease

Black Foot Disease, with gangrene-like symptoms, affects the feet and sometimes the fingers. It is a rare peripheral vascular disease found only in the Province of Taiwan in China.

Identification

• Black pustules form mostly on the feet, but can also be found on other parts of the body. The pustules are painful and if opened, drain pus and blood while emitting a foul odor. Along with swelling and itching, a black layer forms over the pustule wounds. If left untreated the infected tissues decay.

Cause

• The long term consumption of arsenic in the local well water in Taiwan has been identified to cause Black Foot Disease. With continual exposure to the toxin, symptoms begin to develop after five years. External exposure such as washing poses less risk.

Considerations

• The World Health Organization believes malnutrition to be a contributing factor in the progression of this disease.

Treatment

• Advanced stages of Black Foot Disease require amputation of the infected area. A promising medicine using an external application received a U.S. patent in the year 2000. This special herbal recipe based on Chinese medicine was developed expressly for the treatment of Black Foot Disease.

Prevention

• The best prevention for this disease is avoidance of exposure to the arsenic by ingesting clean drinking water. Education, early detection and water testing to stop further internal use of arsenic are all critical.