Flesh-eating disease: What exactly is it?
The term “flesh-eating disease” recently made headlines when a Mississauga, Ont., woman died in hospital from the condition on Jan. 18. Debbie Sebesta’s story draws attention to this rare but potentially fatal disease and raises a host of questions: Exactly what is flesh-eating disease? How does a person get it? How common is it? Do I need to worry?
Flesh-eating disease, or necrotizing fasciitis, is a rare bacterial infection that can cause severe tissue death and damage by rapidly spreading through layers of skin and muscle. Health Canada estimates that there are between 90 and 200 cases of flesh-eating disease per year in Canada, and that this disease will kill about 20 to 30 per cent of those who get it. Although flesh-eating disease has been reported more often in the news, the number of people with this disease has not increased over the last several years. This being said, it is still important to be aware of the causes, risks and symptoms given its potential severity, rapid onset and risk of death.
Flesh-eating disease can be caused by an infection from a variety of different bacteria, including group A streptococcus (GAS). GAS is the same bacteria that causes strep throat and is found on the skin, nose and throat of healthy people. The vast majority of those who carry this bacteria do not get sick and very few people who come into contact with GAS will develop a serious disease. It is unclear why this bacteria can cause flesh-eating disease in some cases and not in others.
Some risk factors for developing flesh-eating disease include:
- Intravenous drug use
- A weakened immune system due to diseases such as HIV, diabetes, alcoholism or medications that affect immune function such as those used for inflammatory conditions or cancer.
- Recent close contact with someone with flesh-eating disease
- Skin wounds from burns, surgery, and trauma and in extremely rare cases, chicken pox lesions.
- Early recognition of flesh-eating disease is crucial as there can be a rapid progression from a benign appearing wound to a more serious and potentially fatal infection. It can start from an infection in a cut or bruise but sometimes there can be no obvious injury or wound.
What to look out for:
- Swelling and redness at the site of a wound that spreads rapidly. This discoloration can darken to a reddish-purple colour and can be accompanied by blisters and bullae (fluid filled pockets).
- Significant pain that increases rapidly over time. The pain will often seem out of proportion to what would be expected for the size or type of injury.
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, rapid heart rate and a general feeling of malaise
How do you minimize your risk of flesh-eating disease?
- Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the symptoms of flesh-eating disease.
- If you have been in close contact with anyone with flesh-eating disease, consult your doctor as they may prescribe antibiotics as a precaution.
- Take care of minor wound and cuts by washing with warm water and monitor for signs of spreading infection. Keep cuts dry with bandages. Remember, most minor infections and wounds will have some redness but if it starts to spread rapidly, seek care early.
- Treatment of flesh-eating disease is a combination of antibiotics and surgery. Antibiotics are generally not effective enough on their own because the infection can cause a decrease in blood supply to tissues which prevents proper transport of the medicine to the infected site. Surgery is often required to remove infected and dead tissue to prevent progression of the infection.
- Keep in mind that flesh-eating disease is very rare and the chance of getting it is low, even when risk factors are present. This being said, given the rapidity and high mortality associated with flesh-eating disease it is important to be aware of and minimize potential risks by caring for and monitoring any wounds, and seek care immediately if there is any suspicion of a rapidly spreading infection.
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Tags: Disease, Flesheating Disease