Everyone who grew up during the 80’s and 90’s will remember using mercurochrome (affectionately known as monkey blood) on many cuts.
Mercurochrome is an antiseptic to be applied directly to an open wound; it is a topical medication and should never be ingested. It is easily identified as a thin reddish-brown liquid, which stains the skin. Currently the use of mercurochrome is controversial, and even banned in some countries.
Scrapes, cuts and burns are often tricky to deal with, especially dealing with an anxious little one. Mercurochrome has been used since the beginning of the 20th century to treat these wounds quickly and with very little fuss. Unlike many creams it applies easily and doesn’t accumulate dirt and does not burn when applied. While creams are easy to use, this requires a plaster to keep the wound clean and the cream on the skin. As an adult plasters and creams are fairly easy to manage; however children are much more physically active.
Your child’s active nature makes keeping plasters and creams on a wound a very difficult task. Mercurochrome dries quickly and is therefore a lot easier to use on open wounds. Mercurochrome dries out the wound very well, unlike most plasters, without exposing the wound to unwanted germs.
Many people swear by using Mercurochrome for a speedy recovery; hardly needing to apply it more than once! With needing only a little for the treatment of wounds and the long shelf-life, Mercurochrome is considered quite cost effective.
So why is it considered controversial?
There are two main reasons people fear using Mercurochrome. The first is that it contains trace amounts of mercury. As most know mercury is a metal with serious side effects. Mercury poisoning can disrupt the healthy development of infants and young children. It has been shown to harm the kidneys, heart, lungs immune system and even the brain. Serious exposure to mercury can lead to organ failure affecting the kidneys and lungs. This in turn can cause death.
The fact that Mercurochrome contains mercury has resulted in it being banned in France, the USA and Germany. Due to the mercury, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labelled it as untested, meaning that more information is required before it can be considered safe. However, many loyalists hunt down the product despite that.
The amount of mercury in Mercurochrome is around 1%, less than in some fish dishes. As so little mercury is actually in Mercurochrome many people feel that it is not a real danger. In such small amounts it is unlikely that your child will suffer from mercury poisoning when using Mercurochrome.
The second reason why some are sceptical about using Mercurochrome is that it colors the skin. The reddish-brown stain can be quite dark, which makes it difficult to assess whether your child may be developing an infection. As Mercurochrome is an anti-septic the development of an infection should be relatively low. The beginning of an infection may be difficult to see at best and the coloring of Mercurochrome may make this even more difficult.
Signs of infection are:
• Very slow healing
• Excessive bleeding
• Swelling
• Reddening
• The development of rotten-smelling pus or pus that is yellow, green or brown.
• The wound may seem to grow
• The wound may become darker
• The area around the wound is quite painful
• The development of a fever
While many adults are familiar with Mercurochrome and feel comfortable using it there are also reasons for caution. The FDA has classified Mercurochrome as untested, this means that while it is proven affective more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of the product. If you choose to use Mercurochrome it is important to use it in small doses and in the correct way. While treating your child with Mercurochrome be sure to check their wounds for signs infection regularly and with care.
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