Necrotizing fasciitis is a very serious disease

Fortunately for everyone, this is a fairly rare disease, as necrotizing fasciitis is rare. This disease is a very serious bacterial infection. What are the causes of its occurrence, and how can it be cured?

Carnivorous bacteria that cause this disease fall into soft tissues and fascia, which is the membrane of the tissue that covers the muscles. It can occur on the limbs after minor injuries or after various surgical interventions. Infection caused by Group A streptococcus occurs most often due to the penetration of this pathogen into the body, even with the smallest injuries of the skin. Mixed bacterial infections are a frequent consequence of surgical operations. Necrotizing fasciitis occurs in the case of coincidence of several specific conditions: a person has a cut, a bruise or an open skin wound through which bacteria enter the tissue; There was a contact with a person who is a carrier of a bacterium (most often it is an invasive serotype or a strain of streptococcus). Penetrating into the human body, this bacterium quickly produces and produces around itself enzymes and toxins that destroy soft tissues and fascia. As a result of this continuous process, they quickly become gangrenous. These gangrenous tissues should be removed only surgically, because otherwise, the patient's life can end in a fatal outcome.

If necrotizing fasciitis is found in the early stages of the disease, a small number of them can be removed during surgical removal of the skin and soft tissue, and only removal of subcutaneous fat and tissue will be required. Bacteria may not attack muscle or bone tissue, although no one is immune from this. In the most severe cases, amputation of the affected limb is mandatory. If the doctors are completely sure that the infection is stopped, the wound is closed, usually with the help of a skin graft. Necrotizing fasciitis is one of the fastest growing infections. That is why the timeliness of treatment is the most important factor in the process of saving a patient.

The causes of this disease are the destruction of tissues by streptococcal infection or anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. These pathogens spread in the subcutaneous tissue from an adjacent ulcer or trauma. The greatest risk of the disease is in people with diabetes. Necrotizing fasciitis leads to tissue ischemia due to blockage of subcutaneous vessels and causes necrotic lesions of the skin.

Symptoms of the disease:

- intense pain;

- the affected tissue acquires a red color, becomes hot and swollen, bubbles are formed;

- high fever, hypotension, tachycardia, decreased mental activity;

Development of gangrene.

The diagnosis is established on examination and is confirmed by high leukocytosis, the presence of gases in the tissues, deterioration of the hemodynamic and metabolic status.

Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis consists in the use of several types of antibiotics and surgical intervention. Approximately 30% of cases, this fasciitis ends with the death of the patient. Elderly age, belated diagnosis and treatment significantly worsen the prognosis.

A variety of fasciitis is plantar fasciitis, which is an aseptic inflammation located in the attachment zone to the heel of the plantar aponeurosis. The mechanism of the development of this disease is directly associated with irritations of the periosteum under load, tearing of the plantar fascia and the development of inflammation in this zone. Clinical picture: pain in the heel, arising after a long walk and wearing shoes.

Plantar fasciitis, the treatment of which is to reduce the tension of the fascia of the plantar area, can be cured with special liners, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, shock wave therapy.