Signs And Symptoms Flesh Eating Disease
Published on Feb 16 2010, in the categories: Flesh Eating Disease
Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as the flesh eating disease, represents a progressive infection, with necrotizing effect, of the fasciitis and of the subcutaneous tissue. This rare bacteria infection can destroy the skin and the underlying tissue, but it does not strike at the muscle. The infection progresses very fast and is usually accompanied by general toxic manifestations.
The most often incriminating etiological agent in the occurrence of flesh eating disease is Streptococcus Pyogenes (or group A strep). When the fasciitis is localized within the scrotum, perineum or genital region, it is called Fournier gangrene. The disease, although rare, is very serious: 30% of patients die if the infection is not treated adequately (Fournier gangrene comes with significantly higher mortality, some 75%). The average age of those who survive is 35, while patients aged above 50 fight off the infection with greater difficulty.
Flesh eating disease mostly targets adults (the average age of patients reaches 38-44), and children are only very rarely diagnosed with this disease. Most patients that develop this type of infection have a health considered to be satisfactory prior to the occurrence of the disease.
Signs and symptoms of flesh eating disease - The patient can develop intense pain after suffering a lesion of variable intensity and depth. Initially, the signs and symptoms of flesh eating disease decrease in intensity within 24 to 36 hours, but they intensely increase afterwards. Often, the pain felt is much more intense than it would be expected, considering the size of the initial wound. The patient could also claim fever, trembling, nausea and modifications in the abdominal transit (mostly manifested through the sudden occurrence of diarrhea).
Changes in the skin include redness in the area of the injury, painful tumefaction as well as increased temperature in the area targeted. If the infection is deep, the signs of inflammation occur later on. The symptoms evolve rapidly in seriousness and they occur suddenly, without premonition signs, as the infection spreads. This situation can become life threatening.
The develop complications including sepsis and shock (complications of the widespread tissue necrosis). Necrotizing fasciitis can even evolve towards multiple organ failure and death, if the symptoms are not recognized and the cause is not treated promptly and aggressively.
Diagnosis - Patients with necrotizing fasciitis show symptoms before going top the doctor. Clinical suspicion of necrotizing fasciitis occurs following careful analysis and the investigation of symptoms (especially if the rapid progression of the necrosis is recognized, as well as the worsening of the patient’s state in a relatively short amount of time).
For a certified diagnosis the doctor could collect a sample of necrotizing tissue. This tissue can be subject to microbiological analysis to precisely identify the bacteria responsible for the infection. In order to evaluate the health of the other organs and to establish the width and depth of the infectious process, the doctor will perform image testing (x ray scans, CR, MRI).
Therapeutic principles - Necrotizing fasciitis requires immediate and extremely aggressive treatment. Often, the condition requires supportive treatment to prevent the occurrence of liver, renal or respiratory failure, as well as shock. Medical treatment, based on antibiotics to which the bacteria is sensitive, is added with surgical treatment aimed at removing the dead tissue and stopping the expansion of the infection.
Preventive measures include washing the hands frequently, adequate hygiene and the rigorous cleaning of various injuries, scratches, burns or other types of lesions, penetrating or not.
The most often incriminating etiological agent in the occurrence of flesh eating disease is Streptococcus Pyogenes (or group A strep). When the fasciitis is localized within the scrotum, perineum or genital region, it is called Fournier gangrene. The disease, although rare, is very serious: 30% of patients die if the infection is not treated adequately (Fournier gangrene comes with significantly higher mortality, some 75%). The average age of those who survive is 35, while patients aged above 50 fight off the infection with greater difficulty.
Flesh eating disease mostly targets adults (the average age of patients reaches 38-44), and children are only very rarely diagnosed with this disease. Most patients that develop this type of infection have a health considered to be satisfactory prior to the occurrence of the disease.
Signs and symptoms of flesh eating disease - The patient can develop intense pain after suffering a lesion of variable intensity and depth. Initially, the signs and symptoms of flesh eating disease decrease in intensity within 24 to 36 hours, but they intensely increase afterwards. Often, the pain felt is much more intense than it would be expected, considering the size of the initial wound. The patient could also claim fever, trembling, nausea and modifications in the abdominal transit (mostly manifested through the sudden occurrence of diarrhea).
Changes in the skin include redness in the area of the injury, painful tumefaction as well as increased temperature in the area targeted. If the infection is deep, the signs of inflammation occur later on. The symptoms evolve rapidly in seriousness and they occur suddenly, without premonition signs, as the infection spreads. This situation can become life threatening.
The develop complications including sepsis and shock (complications of the widespread tissue necrosis). Necrotizing fasciitis can even evolve towards multiple organ failure and death, if the symptoms are not recognized and the cause is not treated promptly and aggressively.
Diagnosis - Patients with necrotizing fasciitis show symptoms before going top the doctor. Clinical suspicion of necrotizing fasciitis occurs following careful analysis and the investigation of symptoms (especially if the rapid progression of the necrosis is recognized, as well as the worsening of the patient’s state in a relatively short amount of time).
For a certified diagnosis the doctor could collect a sample of necrotizing tissue. This tissue can be subject to microbiological analysis to precisely identify the bacteria responsible for the infection. In order to evaluate the health of the other organs and to establish the width and depth of the infectious process, the doctor will perform image testing (x ray scans, CR, MRI).
Therapeutic principles - Necrotizing fasciitis requires immediate and extremely aggressive treatment. Often, the condition requires supportive treatment to prevent the occurrence of liver, renal or respiratory failure, as well as shock. Medical treatment, based on antibiotics to which the bacteria is sensitive, is added with surgical treatment aimed at removing the dead tissue and stopping the expansion of the infection.
Preventive measures include washing the hands frequently, adequate hygiene and the rigorous cleaning of various injuries, scratches, burns or other types of lesions, penetrating or not.
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