Necrotizing Fasciitis

"Hey Dad, what are you working on?" I said. "Nothing, just a presentation on necrotizing fasciitis." Here is where my journey begins. My Dad had to create a presentation on necrotizing fasciitis, as I walked by I saw a cool picture up on the screen so being me I wanted to know what it was. Necrotizing means dying or killing and fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia, fascia being connective tissue. Altogether it means the killing of connective tissue, also known as flesh eating bacteria. It does not really eat the flesh. Now let's find out what necrotizing fasciitis is.

What is necrotizing fasciitis? fasciitis is a rare but very nasty infection. It can destroy (or completely obliterate) skin and the tissues below it (skin, muscle and, fat). (1Necrotizing)Necrotizing fasciitis will hit hard and fast usually taking only a few hours (48) to quite possibly maim or kill the afflicted. This is why it is sometimes commonly referred to as "flesh eating bacteria" because of the rapid death of flesh. (National) fasciitis is most commonly caused by type A strep. The scientific name for it is Streptococcus pyogene. Streptococcus pyogene also causes strep throat.(1Necrotizing)

Now how so you get necrotizing fasciitis? The answer is many ways, but there are ways that you are more likely to get it such as having a weakened immune system or lacking the proper antibodies to fend the necrotizing fasciitis off; also diabetes, cancer, liver or, kidney disease can make it easier to contract necrotizing fasciitis. Cuts and scrapes provide a doorway to your body with neon signs. Now, you get necrotizing fasciitis from Streptococcus pyogene entering the body and setting up shop in the next 24 hours. (1Necrotizing) The following symptoms will appear in the first 24 hours following infection: some pain in general area, pain is disproportionate for injury like a paper cut feeling like someone dropped bricks on it, flu like symptoms, intense thirst and, feeling worse than you have ever felt before without knowing why. When all of these symptoms are there you NEED TO GO TO A DOCTOR! Have them rule out necrotizing fasciitis. After three to four days the area will swell and turn a purplish color. The infected area will develop dark marks with dark blisters filled with dark fluids; lastly the area may appear dead. After four to five days (if you are still alive) your blood pressure will drop severely, the body will develop toxic shock syndrome and, finally unconsciousness will occur.(2Necrotizing)

How do you prevent and get rid of necrotizing fasciitis? (National) First of all you need to try your hardest to prevent yourself from getting it! Keep your hands clean, keep your skin intact and don't let yourself come in contact with Streptococcus pyogene. If you think you have contracted necrotizing fasciitis, seek medical attention immediately and make sure they rule out necrotizing fasciitis. That is the reason is commonly misdiagnosed because it is so rare you generally need to ask for it to be ruled out. (National) If you have necrotizing fasciitis you will need and IV and surgery at almost the same time so minimal damage is done. The surgery will more than likely require skin grafting to make area where skin was removed look normal again.(1 Necrotizing)

So quick review, if you get necrotizing fasciitis you need medical attention as soon as possible. Remember to keep your hands washed and your body clean. Wash and bandage even the smallest cuts and scrapes. To put it simply, you don't want to be that interesting case in a medical periodical.
(as a note all my citations are at the end of info)
This is the picture that got my attention.