Necrotizing fasciitis essays

Necrotizing fasciitis essays Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the soft tissue of the body, usually in an extremity following a minor trauma. There are also cases of it occurring after surgery, most often abdominal surgery. Necrotizing fasciitis (nek-roe-tie-zing fah-shee-eye-tis) is more commonly known as ''flesh-eating disease". It is a rare illness that causes extensive tissue destruction and can lead to death. Definition and Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis Include, fever, sever pain, and a red painful swelling which spreads rapidly. Death can occur in 12 to 24 hours. When the disease spreads along the layers of tissue that surround muscle (the fascia), it is called necrotizing fasciitis. When the disease affects the muscle tissue, it is called necrotizing myositis. The bacterium comes from the group A streptococci a bacterial infection found most often in the throat and on the skin. People may carry group A streptococci and have no symptoms. Most GAS (group a streptococci) infections are relatively mild such as ''Strep Throat'', or Impetigo. This bacterium is spread through direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of a person who is infected, or through contact with infected wounds or sores on the skin. Ill people such as those who have strep throat or skin infections are more likely to spread the infection. Persons who carry the bacteria but have no symptoms are much less contagious. Although healthy people can get invasive GAS disease, people with chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and kidney dialysis, and those who use medications such as steroids have a higher risk. Doctors also point out that streptococcus A is not infectious in what is thought of as the traditional sense. It can not be spread by airborne dispersion, touching, or through fecal matter. It can however, be spread by transmission of blood or Doctors say that they are currently experimenting with several different treatment re...