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Easy Appointment Booking

Scheduling ORF treatment online is quick and hassle-free. Choose a time that works for you and connect with a qualified doctor from the comfort of your home. Start your recovery journey without delays or unnecessary stress today!

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Effective Treatment

Get personalised ORF treatment online from trusted medical professionals. Doctors assess your condition, recommend effective remedies, and prescribe medications to ease symptoms and promote healing. Expert guidance ensures your treatment is tailored to your needs for faster recovery.

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Ongoing Support

ORF treatment online provides continuous care beyond the initial consultation. Benefit from follow-up advice, self-care tips, and preventive measures to manage symptoms effectively and avoid recurrence. Your doctor is with you every step of the way.

Medically Reviewed

By

Chrysoula I. Liakou

MD, PhD, Internal Medicine Specialist and
Cancer Immunology Researcher.

What is ORF?

Humans become infected with ORF through sheep or goats infected with it.

Various names include scabby mouth, thistle disease, contagious ecthyma, infectious labial dermatitis or contagious pustular dermatitis. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.

What are the Symptoms of ORF?

After coming into contact with the ORF virus, it can take up to 5 days before it manifests on the outermost layer of the skin, often appearing on the hands or fingers, forearms, or face.

You may experience discomfort in the form of small, itchy red lumps up to 2-5 cm in size. These lumps can be painful, and you may have more than one.

The condition progresses slowly, usually over 3-6 weeks. Initially, legions form, which then turn into pimples or blisters containing fluid that can be tender. Eventually, these lumps will start to dry and form a crust before healing completely without leaving any scarring.

There is also the possibility of:

  • Fever (high temperature)

  • Fatigue

  • Swollen lymph glands

 

Common ORF Symptoms and Recommended Care

Symptom Description Recommended Action
Painful red lumps Small red bumps on hands or face Keep clean, avoid touching, monitor healing
Blisters or lesions Fluid-filled or crusted sores Cover with sterile dressing
Swelling and tenderness Local inflammation Apply cool compress, rest
Fever or fatigue Signs of infection response Consult doctor for advice
Slow healing Lesions not improving Seek online medical review

Complications of ORF

If you have a weakened immune system, such as a chronic condition, it could lead to complications of ORF. These include:

  • Bullous pemphigoid is a condition that produces blisters on the skin

  • Blisters everywhere

  • Lesions that resemble tumours in size

  • An erythema multiforme rash

What are the Causes of ORF?

If their skin is broken or damaged, ORF can be contracted by people who come into contact with goats, sheep, or their carcasses. This contact can be through the animal itself or even contaminated equipment.

Following good hygiene practices when interacting with sheep or goats is essential. Wear gloves when handling animals, if possible. Additionally, it is important to frequently wash your hands and cover any cuts or abrasions on the skin.

 

It is possible to contract the condition more than once, but the subsequent infections may be less pronounced and take less time to clear up.

What is the Treatment for ORF?

Around six weeks is usually enough for ORF to heal on its own.

It is important to protect the area until the lesions are fully healed, as they may become infected. It is important that you:

  • If the lesion is wet, cover it with a waterproof bandage.

  • To prevent further infection, always cover the wound with a sterile dressing.

  • Be sure to cover the lesion when working with animals as much as possible.

You should contact a doctor if:

  • There is no healing or improvement of the lesion

  • Rapid growth or spread of the lesion

  • You have a fever

  • There is severe pain in your body

In some instances, the ORF may not heal without medical intervention and may require surgery to be removed. If bacteria cause the infection, a doctor will be able to evaluate the intensity of the illness and may recommend antibiotics to treat it.

Should you see a GP about ORF?

Generally, ORF will heal by itself within six weeks. Thus, medical intervention is only sometimes necessary.

If the lesion does not heal independently, if a fever is present, or if the condition is causing considerable discomfort, you should consult a doctor. Bacterial infection of the lesions is also possible and may require antibiotic treatment.

How can Mobi Doctor help?

If you suspect you may have contracted ORF, or if the symptoms have not cleared up, our doctors can provide guidance and assistance.

No matter what day, you can contact our doctors anytime. We offer video consultations so you can get an expert opinion on any condition you face. Don't wait any longer; book your appointment now!

Connect with one of our doctors at Mobi Doctor with the click of a button and receive the care you require.

FAQ

ORF is a viral skin infection transmitted from sheep or goats to humans. It causes red, painful lesions, often on the hands or arms, and usually heals on its own within six weeks.

Yes. With Mobi Doctor, you can consult an online doctor who will assess your symptoms, provide care instructions, and prescribe medication if a secondary bacterial infection develops.

Symptoms include small, painful red lumps that may turn into fluid-filled blisters. Some people also experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, or tiredness.

Most ORF infections heal naturally. Doctors may recommend keeping the area covered, preventing further infection, and using topical or oral antibiotics if bacteria are involved.

You should contact a doctor if the lesion grows rapidly, fails to heal after six weeks, becomes painful, or if you develop fever or swelling. Early medical advice prevents complications.

No. ORF cannot be spread from person to person. It is only transmitted through contact with infected sheep, goats, or contaminated equipment.

Yes. Reinfection can occur if you are re-exposed to the virus, although subsequent infections are usually milder and heal faster. Practising good hygiene reduces the risk.

Wear protective gloves when handling animals, wash hands thoroughly, and cover any cuts or abrasions. Avoid contact with infected livestock until fully healed.


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