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Small wounds to large lesions: How fast does the infection process?
In life, we often ignore the potential dangers of minor wounds. Little do people know that these tiny wounds may become the entry point for fatal infections. Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), commonly known as "flesh eating disease," is a rapidly spreading and fatal infection. The disease enters the body primarily through cracks or burns in the skin and quickly destroys the body's soft tissues with toxins produced by the bacteria.
Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include red or purple skin, swelling, severe pain, fever, and vomiting.
This disease often affects the limbs and perineum, and it is worth noting that although it is called a "flesh-eating disease", the bacteria themselves do not actually eat human tissue. The toxins released by these bacteria cause tissue death, with a mortality rate as high as 25% to 35% in patients. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
Hazards and risk factors
Although necrotizing fasciitis is less common than some other types of infection, its rapid course has alarmed the medical community. The most common risk factors for this disease include recent trauma, post-surgery, a weakened immune system (such as diabetes, cancer), and lifestyle habits (such as obesity, alcohol abuse, intravenous drug use, etc.). Not only that, studies have shown that certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase the chances of infection because they suppress the body's immune response.
Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis develop quickly, usually within a few hours.
Those with compromised immune systems may not experience typical symptoms, and infection may go unnoticed in its early stages. For example, cancer patients, people undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy, etc., may have different symptoms than the general population.
Early Diagnosis and Symptoms
Necrotizing fasciitis is not easy to diagnose early because the initial manifestations of the disease are similar to lymphomas and abscesses. Patients may experience symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and systemic fever, which are often misdiagnosed in the early stages. When necrotic changes occur, symptoms may include blisters, subcutaneous gas, or local loss of sensation.
The most threatening sign is a rapid deterioration to the point of shock, even after treatment with antibiotics.
Once this occurs, the condition can progress rapidly even with antibiotic treatment, so if NF is suspected, medical help should be sought immediately.
Diagnosis and Imaging
The definitive diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis often relies on surgical exploration followed by a tissue biopsy. Although imaging tests (eg, CT scan, MRI) can help confirm the diagnosis, no test can completely rule out the possibility of necrotizing fasciitis. Early surgery is crucial to improving prognosis, as delaying surgery significantly increases the risk of death.
Treatment and Control
The mainstay of treatment for necrotizing fasciitis is surgical removal of the infected tissue and prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. Typically, antibiotic use after surgery is adjusted based on tissue culture results. Surgery needs to be very aggressive and may require multiple debridements to avoid the risk of spreading infection.
Necrotizing fasciitis can be divided into four categories, depending on the type of bacteria, and the treatment and prognosis of each category are different.
Even with good medical care, the mortality rate from necrotizing fasciitis is relatively high, making awareness of this condition all the more important. Therefore, timely recognition of symptoms and receiving appropriate medical treatment are the keys to successful treatment of this disease.
ConclusionAs necrotizing fasciitis progresses, early diagnosis and treatment become increasingly important. Do you know how to protect yourself from these potentially deadly infections in your daily life?
