Necrotizing Fasciitis
Description
Necrotizing Fasciitis is a term for a rare but very severe condition of rapidly spreading infection in the skin, fat, and a band of connective tissue covering the muscle called the fascia. The bacterium known as Streptococcus Pyogenes enters the body through a wound and releases deadly toxins as it consumes and multiplies the surrounding tissue, eventually adding TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) to the infection. The release of toxins eventually leads to necrosis (the premature death of cells in living tissue), thus creating the commonly given name known as the “flesh-eating disease”.
Symptoms
1. A small, red, painful lump or bump on the skin forms and changes into a very painful and rapidly growing bruise-like area.
2. Within 24 hours, the center will start to necrotize, break open, and ooze fluid. Flu-like symptoms such as weakness, nausea, fever, and sweating may be contracted.
3. Within a few days, the soft tissue will have necrotized several inches wide in diameter and the body will have symptoms of toxic shock syndrome from the bacteria and low blood pressure from dehydration.
Acquiring of Necrotizing Fasciitis
Necrotizing Fasciitis is caused by the Streptococcus Pyogenes bacterium, or Group A strep bacteria. It can’t necessarily be prevented because Group A strep bacteria is the same bacteria that is found in a common strep throat condition, but you can lessen the chances to contract it if you take precaution to stay hygienic and care for any traumas you have due to it being able to enter the soft tissue from a bruise or a small cut. Most importantly, make sure you have a strong immunity so as to not to be susceptible to infection because it is most commonly found in people with compromised immune systems such as newborns and cancer patients.
Diagnosing of Necrotizing Fasciitis
At all times, around 15% of the human population has contracted the Streptococcus Pyogenes bacteria with little to no
Necrotizing Fasciitis is a term for a rare but very severe condition of rapidly spreading infection in the skin, fat, and a band of connective tissue covering the muscle called the fascia. The bacterium known as Streptococcus Pyogenes enters the body through a wound and releases deadly toxins as it consumes and multiplies the surrounding tissue, eventually adding TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) to the infection. The release of toxins eventually leads to necrosis (the premature death of cells in living tissue), thus creating the commonly given name known as the “flesh-eating disease”.
Symptoms
1. A small, red, painful lump or bump on the skin forms and changes into a very painful and rapidly growing bruise-like area.
2. Within 24 hours, the center will start to necrotize, break open, and ooze fluid. Flu-like symptoms such as weakness, nausea, fever, and sweating may be contracted.
3. Within a few days, the soft tissue will have necrotized several inches wide in diameter and the body will have symptoms of toxic shock syndrome from the bacteria and low blood pressure from dehydration.
Acquiring of Necrotizing Fasciitis
Necrotizing Fasciitis is caused by the Streptococcus Pyogenes bacterium, or Group A strep bacteria. It can’t necessarily be prevented because Group A strep bacteria is the same bacteria that is found in a common strep throat condition, but you can lessen the chances to contract it if you take precaution to stay hygienic and care for any traumas you have due to it being able to enter the soft tissue from a bruise or a small cut. Most importantly, make sure you have a strong immunity so as to not to be susceptible to infection because it is most commonly found in people with compromised immune systems such as newborns and cancer patients.
Diagnosing of Necrotizing Fasciitis
At all times, around 15% of the human population has contracted the Streptococcus Pyogenes bacteria with little to no
Cited: Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Rare Disease, Especially for the Healthy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 June 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria)-Topic Overview." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "Necrotizing Fasciitis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Do Different Types of Necrotizing Fasciitis Exist? on MedicineNet." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "NNFF - Prevention." NNFF - Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "NNFF Quick Fact Sheet." NNFF Quick Fact Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. "What Is Necrotizing Fasciitis?" What Is Necrotizing Fasciitis? N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. ----------------------- 1/23/13 Karl Tio