Necrotizing fasciitis how does it start

Fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia the tissue under the skin that surrounds muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels. The infection often spreads very quickly. Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis can include:. See a doctor right away if you have these symptoms after an injury or surgery. Even though minor illnesses can cause symptoms like these, people should not delay getting medical care. Necrotizing fasciitis is a very serious illness that requires care in a hospital. Antibiotics and surgery are typically the first lines of defense if a doctor suspects a patient has necrotizing fasciitis.

Since necrotizing fasciitis can spread so rapidly, patients often must get surgery done very quickly. Doctors also give antibiotics through a needle into a vein IV antibiotics to try to stop the infection.

Sometimes, however, antibiotics cannot reach all of the infected areas because the bacteria have killed too much tissue and reduced blood flow. When this happens, doctors have to surgically remove the dead tissue. It is not unusual for someone with necrotizing fasciitis to end up needing multiple surgeries. In serious cases, the patient may need a blood transfusion. There are many infections that look similar to necrotizing fasciitis in the early stages, which can make diagnosis difficult.

In addition to looking at the injury or infection, doctors can diagnose necrotizing fasciitis by:. However, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. Therefore, doctors may not wait for test results if they think a patient might have necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis can lead to sepsis , shock, and organ failure. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

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Preview the new GARD site. Bacterial infections. Summary Summary. Symptoms Symptoms. Symptoms often begin within hours of an injury and typically include intense pain and tenderness over the affected area.

The pain is often severe and may resemble that of a torn muscle. Early symptoms may be mistaken for the flu and can include fever, sore throat, stomach ache, nausea, diarrhea, chills, and general body aches. The patient may notice redness around the area that spreads quickly; the affected area can eventually become swollen, shiny, discolored, and hot to the touch.

In addition, ulcers or blisters may develop. If the infection continues to spread, the patient may experience dehydration, high fever, fast heart rate, and low blood pressure.

Pain may actually improve as tissues and the nerves are destroyed. As the infection spreads, vital organs may be affected and the patient may become confused or delirious. If not successfully treated, necrotizing fasciitis can lead to shock and eventual death. Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you. Cause Cause. Anyone can develop necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by a number of different bacteria. One of these is group A streptococcus.

These bacteria are found on the skin or in the nose and throat of healthy people. These bacteria can also cause strep throat, scarlet fever, skin infections and rheumatic fever. It is not fully understood why group A streptococcus bacteria sometimes cause necrotizing fasciitis. However, these bacteria make toxins that destroy body tissue directly. The bacteria also cause the body's immune system to destroy its own tissue while fighting the infection. Group A streptococcus bacteria spread by contact with saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person.

The infected person may or may not have symptoms. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the bacteria spread through droplets in the air. You can become infected when you breathe in these droplets, touch objects contaminated with them, and then touch your eyes or mucous membranes or put your hands in your mouth. The bacteria can also spread through close personal contact. For example, kissing or sharing drinking cups, forks, spoons or cigarettes.

There is no vaccine to prevent group A streptococcal infections. Antibiotics are recommended if you have close contact with someone who has necrotizing fasciitis caused by group A streptococcus for example, if you live in the same household. Since this severe form of streptococcal infection can progress so rapidly, the best approach is to get medical attention as soon as symptoms occur.

Remember, an important clue to this disease is very severe pain at the site of a wound. Always take good care of minor cuts to reduce the chance of the tissues under the skin getting infected. If you have a small cut or wound, wash it well in warm soapy water, and keep it clean and dry with a bandage.

Antibiotics are an important part of the treatment for necrotizing fasciitis.