Veldt

Synonym: Desert sore.

Veldt occurs under desert conditions in tropical and subtropical countries. It is caused by excessive dryness of the skin; the causative organisms are not definitely known, but diphtheria bacilli and streptococci are supposed to cause the condition.

Symptoms of Veldt

The sites of predilection are the exposed parts of the body, particularly the backs of the hands. It starts as a painful herpetiform vesicular eruption.

The vesicles rupture, discharging a straw-colored fluid and leave behind a shallow ulcer which continues to spread and becomes chronic. The chronic ulcer is circular, and has a diameter of about one and a half inches. The margins are thick and the edges undermined or straight.

The base contains greyish debris but no pus. An adherent membrane may be seen. The ulcer is usually chronic and indolent. Healing produces a papery scar. Only in the early stages can the diphtheria bacilli be demonstrated in the veldt sore.

Treatment of Veldt

It consists of:

1. A course of penicillin injections-4 lacs of procaine penicillin intramuscularly daily for about 12 days, or till complete recovery.

2. Anti-diphtheritic serum 20,000 LU.

3. Bacitracin ointment (locally). The affected part must be kept covered.

4. A course of broad-spectrum antibiotics in resistant cases.