Necrotizing Fasciitis
flesh eating disease
What body system does this disease affect, and how does this system change?
The integumentary system is made up of skin and hair. The skin protects the organs and protects the body from infections. Your skin is your immune systems first line of defense. When it is breached with a cut, bug bite or anything else, you open up to diseases that usually would not affect you. So when Necrotizing Fasciitis enters, it releases toxins that kill and open the skin.
"Flesh-Eating" Bacteria
Who gets this disease?
Your age and gender do not affect if you get this disease. The only thing that affects if you get this disease is your immune system. Most of the time the only way to get Necrotizing Fasciitis is if your immune system is breached and you go swimming. But swimming with a cut is not the only way to get Necrotizing Fasciitis If you are a drug addict you can also get this disease.
Signs and Symptoms
Some of the signs are:
- Feeling ill
- having a fever
- sweating
- chills
- nausea
- weakness
How the disease progresses:
- It starts as a small and painful lump
- then it turns into a bruise
- next the middle of the bruise dies
- lastly the area pops and blood and other liquids ooze out.
How do doctors know if you have this disease, and how is it treated?
To determine if you have this disease doctors use CT scans, blood tests and skin biopsy. Once doctors determine you have Necrotizing Fasciitis they might try to give you antibiotics in a vein. If this doesn't work then you might need surgery to drain the disease and remove dead tissue. If this doesn't work then amputation might be the only solution.
Warning if you have a weak stomach don't look at the next picture.
Prognoisis
In America 1,000 people get Necrotizing Fasciitis a year. Out of them only 20%-60% die. If you get this disease you could die in 24 hours.
Connections
I didn't know anyone with this disease but I did read about someone who did get this disease. The only reason I choose this disease is because I wanted a rare disease.