Necrotizing Fasciitis Research Paper

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Kathy Stuvick Anatomy and Physiology Honors 27 September 2010 Necrotizing Fasciitis What is Necrotizing Fasciitis? How do you get it? How long does it last? Is it painful? Is it Contagious? Necrotizing Fasciitis is a horrible disease that affects the skin and soft tissue beneath it. It is a disease of the skin and surrounding tissues, it is contagious, and it is potentially deadly. Necrotizing Fasciitis is also known as “flesh-eating bacteria”. It is a rare bacterial infection that invades the skin and tissues under the skin. The tissues die rapidly, so it is important or doctors to catch it early. The picture to the left is a picture of normal skin and the soft tissue underneath it. Necrotizing Fasciitis increases sensitivity, releases…show more content…
Early symptoms are flu-like, skin becomes tender and red, great pain, it may have a hard feel outside of the wound itself, and it is undetectable from any other possible infections. The picture at the right is a picture of the early symptoms. The advanced symptoms are great pain and swelling, multiple discolored patches of skin, a lot of destruction of the skin and subcutaneous layers, skin loosened, and large, dark marks that are filled with a yellow-green fluid. The picture at the left is a picture of the advanced symptoms. The critical symptoms are vasculature of the skin is inflamed, nerve damage and unconsciousness occurs, severe decrease in blood pressure, septic shock, high fever, high white blood count, respiratory failure, heart failure, and renal failure. The picture at the right is of the critical symptoms. There are several ways to prevent getting necrotizing fasciitis; they are always washing wounds and small openings with antibiotic substances. Also, cover the mouth when coughing and sneezing. Finally, avoid contact with people who show signs of sore throat. There are a couple of treatments, also; they are surgery that removes infected tissues, antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin, treat complications, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This “flesh-eating bacteria” is something that will ruin patients’ lives if they catch

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