title: Burns or phytophotodermatitis, abuse or neglect:  confusing aspects of skin lesions caused by the superstitious use of fig leaves.
abstract: As a superstition, homemade decoctions are believed to be beneficial for several diseases. This kind of medical therapy, however, can lead to serious adverse effects. In this report, we present three cases from a single family. Each of the family members developed phytophotodermatitis after the application of a fig leaf decoction. The most severe effect was in the case of a 13-year-old boy who had been bathed with the fig leaf decoction; the two other cases were the parents who prepared and applied the medicine to their child's skin to heal the boy's congenital mental-motor retardation. Silver sulfadiazine was used for wound care. The mother was discharged 6 days after admission, the father, after 8 days, and the boy, after 14 days. Burnlike wounds in all three cases healed completely.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Burn and Fire Disasters Institute, Baskent University, Ankara Burn Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse Ebru Sakallioglu
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abali
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aka
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberal
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D030681:Ficus; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013483:Superstitions
chemical_list: D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine