Dr. Wee Sin Hua, a Kota Baru-area dentist, took to his Facebook account to issue words of warning for his followers in seeking home remedies over medical advice: The outcome could be deadly.
Stating that his patient allowed for him to share the case on social media as a warning to others, he writes that the gentleman initially felt a tooth ache a few weeks ago. Reticent to visit a dentist, he tried a remedy that he had used a few years ago — motorcycle engine oil.
The patient claimed that having felt a similar pain years ago, and used the same treatment, his ache went away.
However, when he applied the oil again, instead of riding his mouth of pain, he experienced serious gum swelling. Scared, but still more frightened to visit a dentist, he went to a doctor instead, who prescribed painkillers and antibiotics.
Dr. Wee writes that unfortunately, the man’s growing infection became resistant to the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, and after four days of further pain, and more swelling, he finally went to see a dentist. At this point, Dr. Wee described his head having grown to double its size.
Diagnosing the man with facial cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial skin infection, he is sent to hospital for emergency attention.
In hospital, his infection continues to worsen, and his head continues to grow, and at this point Dr. Wee and attending doctors decide to pull the tooth, and draining “a lot” of pus.
Unfortunately, the action did not stop his infection from reaching his bloodstream, and at this point hospital doctors diagnose him with septic encephalopathy, a sepsis variant associated with an increased mortality rate, and neurological complications.
As Dr. Wee puts it, sepsis “don play play.”
Again, the man goes into surgery to remove excessive pus, and spends over one week in ICU. Eventually, his condition improves, and he is moved to a regular hospital ward, but is still in need of medical attention.
And there you have it – Dr. Wee asks citizens to take their dental health seriously, as it could have deadly affects. Go see you dentist every six months for a check-up, make sure those administering dental treatments are actual dentists. Don’t get fake braces, backyard teeth whitening procedures, or uncertified denture implants.
Ok? Got it?
We hope his patient continues on to have a full recovery.
