The most read Vietnamese newspaper
Edition: International | Vietnamese
© Copyright 1997 VnExpress.net. All rights reserved.
A U.S. doctor has issued a strong warning to travelers following an alarming incident in which a tourist developed a severe skin infection after receiving a low-cost Thai massage, Thai Examiner reported.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency room physician, responded to a viral TikTok video posted by a woman.
The video showed her boyfriend's legs covered in red, pus-filled bumps following a US$5 massage performed by an elderly woman in a back-alley location in Thailand.
Initially, the experience seemed harmless. However, by the next morning, the man woke up to find his legs inflamed and covered with painful lesions, Daily Mail reported.
"When the massage is $5 and the infection is free," Whittington remarked in his video which has been viewed more than 365,000 times.
According to him, the man had developed folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles that typically results in red, itchy, or pus-filled pimples on the skin.
"Folliculitis happens when bacteria and bad decisions team up," he added.
Dr. Whittington explained that the infection was most likely caused by Staphylococcus aureus (commonly known as staph), a bacterium that spreads through direct skin contact or contaminated items such as towels or massage oils.
He warned that poor sanitation in massage settings can quickly turn minor exposure into serious medical problems.
According to the Thai Massage Preservation Association (Charawi Association), traditional Thai massage, known as Nuad Thai, was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2019.
While there are tens of thousands of massage establishments across the country, only about 25% are officially licensed.
Illegal practice, particularly by foreigners, is widespread, especially in major cities like Bangkok. It is estimated that the capital alone has around 50,000 foreign workers operating illegally in the massage industry.
A 43-year-old Australian man was found dead at a massage parlor on Thailand's Koh Samui island in the early hours of Monday after staff initially heard him snoring in his sleep following a massage session.
Police arrived at the scene and confirmed the man had died on a bed inside one of the parlor's private upstairs rooms, Thaiger reported.
He had paid 400 baht ($12.28) for a one-hour traditional oil massage just after midnight.
