Necrotizing Fasciitis – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments

Necrotizing Fasciitis – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Also, Necrotizing Fasciitis is an infection that can destroy tissue in your skin and muscles. It is rare in healthy people. Necrotizing Fasciitis can be caused by several types of bacteria , but the most dangerous form of the infection is caused by the group A Streptococcus bacteria. This infection can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

People who have other conditions that can weaken their immune system are at a higher risk of developing Necrotizing Fasciitis . You should call a doctor or go to an emergency room right away if you think you may have the infection . Necrotizing Fasciitis is a type of soft tissue infection . It can destroy tissue in your skin and muscles, as well as subcutaneous tissue, which is the tissue beneath your skin .

Necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly caused by an infection with group A Streptococcus, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria”. This is the fastest way of moving the infection . When this infection is caused by other types of bacteria , it usually doesn’t progress as quickly and isn’t as dangerous.

This infection is rare in healthy people, but it is possible to get this infection from even a small cut, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms if you are at risk. You should see your doctor right away if you have symptoms or believe you have developed the infection . As the condition can progress quickly, it is vital to treat it as early as possible.

Causes of Necrotizing Fasciitis: Several types of bacteria cause Necrotizing Fasciitis . The most common and known type is group A Streptococcus. However, this is not the only type of bacteria that can cause this infection . Other bacteria that can cause Necrotizing Fasciitis include:

• Aeromonas hydrophila
• Clostridium
• Escherichia coli
• Klebsiella
• Staphylococcus aureus

To get Necrotizing Fasciitis , you need to have the bacteria in your body. This normally occurs when the skin is broken. For example, bacteria can enter your body through a cut, scrape, or surgical wound. These lesions do not need to be large for the bacteria to take hold. Even a needle puncture may be enough.

Symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis: The first symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis may not seem serious. Your skin may feel hot and red, and you may feel like you’ve pulled a muscle. You may even feel like you have the flu.

You may also develop a painful, red bump, which is usually small. However, the red bump doesn’t get small. The pain will become worse and the affected area will grow rapidly.

There may be excess of the infected area, or it may become discolored as it grows. Blisters, bumps, black spots, or other skin lesions may appear. In the early stages of the infection , the pain will be much worse than it looks.

Other Symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis Include:

• Fatigue;
• Weakness;
• Fever with chills and sweating;
• Nausea;
• vomiting;
• dizziness;
• Infrequent urination.

Diagnoses of Necrotizing Fasciitis: In addition to looking at the skin , your doctor may perform several tests to diagnose Necrotizing Fasciitis . They may do a biopsy, which is a small sample of the affected skin tissue for examination.

In other cases, blood tests, CT scans, or MRI scans can help your doctor make a diagnosis. Blood tests can show if your muscles have been damaged.

Risk Factors for Necrotizing Fasciitis: You can develop Necrotizing Fasciitis even if you are perfectly healthy, but this is rare. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, people who already have health conditions that weaken the immune system, such as cancer or diabetes, are at a higher risk of developing infections caused by group A Streptococcus.

Other People at Higher Risk for Necrotizing Fasciitis Include Those Who:

• Have chronic heart or lung disease;
• Use steroids;
• Has skin lesions;
• Abusing alcohol or injecting drugs.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Treatments: The treatment of Necrotizing Fasciitis starts with strong antibiotics. These are delivered directly into your veins. Tissue breakdown means antibiotics may not be able to reach all infected areas.

As a result, it’s important for doctors to remove any dead tissue right away. In some cases, amputation of one or more limbs may be necessary to help stop the spread of infection .