Bangkok - The Devil Has Wings!

Proof...



Last Hurrah in Bangkok

How would I know that my 10 minutes of fame would be as a lancing subject in a Bangkok Pharmacists office? I also have the dubious honor of having a photo of my affliction included as a case study on the wall of this wonderful institution, conveniently located next to a 7-11 near infamous Kao San Rd.

Despite hydrogen peroxide, my mild scratching and bandaging of the bites from a particularly nasty type of mosquito resulted in a two small, but dramatic, infections. Like the poison oak it resembled, this series of small blisters was spreading. After 3 months (and previous trips) in the tropics, I'd never seen anything like it. I know it seems relatively small, but it was irritated as heck being in a crease and all, and not an affliction one wants during hand abusing border crossings into a 3rd world country toting lots of luggage.

My pharmacist's trip resulted in a highly public counter top lancing, cleaning, and anointing with antibacterial cream, and then wrapping with airy gauze to keep the Bangkok grime out. All this provided much entertainment for whoever wandered in, including a particularly charming if quirky Canadian pre-med student that chomped on Pad Thai while spell bound. I left with a small bag of antibacterial liquids, creams, wound dressings, antihistamines, anitibiotics, and yet more pills for all my other lingering tropical maladies. Why not take care of it all at once?

I got off lucky though... I've seen several other people with legs covered for several inches in blisters from this special strain of mosquito. Secondary infection and scarring is common.

Pretty nasty! It seems some strange twist of fate that I'm often leaving countries bandaged with some last minute bazaar injury.