How Can We Get the Flesh Eating Disease Out of Our Oceans
Fast facts: Flesh-eating leaner
How worried should we be about these terrifying-sounding bacteria, and what can we do well-nigh them?
August i, 2019
Although non an everyday occurrence, the phrase "flesh-eating bacteria" seems to wink across the evening news every few weeks. Hector Chapa, MD, FACOG, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&Thousand College of Medicine, discusses this frightening phrase and what it ways for our fun in the sunday during these hot months.
What are flesh-eating leaner?
In general, the phrase 'flesh-eating leaner' refers to a tissue-destroying infection chosen necrotizing fasciitis. Since 2010, approximately 700 to 1,200 cases occur every year in the United states of america. Furthermore, roughly one in three people who contract it die from the infection.
"With a quick diagnosis, rapid treatment and fast surgery, flesh-eating leaner does non have to be fatal," Chapa said. "The play a joke on is to apace place information technology and seek immediate assistance."
What are the different kinds of flesh-eating bacteria?
Various types of bacteria tin cause flesh-eating bacteria. However, the ii well-nigh mutual causes are Grouping A streptococcus and vibrio. These leaner tin live in lakes, oceans, swimming pools and fifty-fifty hot tubs.
Group A streptococcus is a bacterium also known to cause strep throat, scarlet fever and rheumatic fever. While spreading this bacterium through strep throat is relatively common, spreading necrotizing fasciitis is rare.
"Vibrio, or vibrio vulnificus and vibrio alginolyticus, is the bacteria associated with the summertime seawater exposures of flesh-eating bacteria that are currently in the news," Chapa said. "You can contract vibrio from salt water or brackish water, simply likewise from eating raw or undercooked shellfish."
Both types of bacteria tin can cause an infection to enter the organisation through breaks in a person's skin. This interruption in skin tin be something as small as an insect bite or scrape, but too something equally large as a surgical incision.
What are the symptoms of mankind-eating bacteria?
A flesh-eating bacteria infection tin can spread quickly. The commencement signs of an infection are an increasingly large presence of red or swollen skin. The red peel will be painful, and its appearance volition be followed by a fever.
Symptoms of a more progressed flesh-eating bacterial infection are ulcers, blisters or blackness spots nether the peel. Another symptom is the presence of pus oozing from the infected area. People affected likewise experience dizzy, drawn and even nauseous.
"If you find a combination of these symptoms, whether you have been in the bounding main or not, then contact your wellness care provider immediately," Chapa said. "With flesh-eating bacteria, you lot desire to get help as shortly as possible."
Are certain people more susceptible to mankind-eating bacteria than others?
Overall, this infection is rare. Nevertheless, it can happen and it is life threatening.
"People with dumb immune systems—similar those with cancer, uncontrolled diabetes or whatsoever diversity of autoimmune conditions—are more likely to contract flesh-eating leaner," Chapa explained. "These high-chance people are also more likely to develop a more than serious infection from it too."
How practice y'all care for flesh-eating bacteria?
"Antibiotics and surgery are the get-go line of defence force if someone contracted necrotizing fasciitis," Chapa said. "Still, if the infection has killed too much tissue, then a surgeon may need to surgically remove the dead tissue to prevent it from spreading."
In serious cases, you lot may need a blood transfusion and multiple surgeries to successfully get rid of necrotizing fasciitis.
How do I avoid contracting flesh-eating leaner?
If you have an open wound, health intendance providers will recommend you lot avert going in the water. "Yet, if you lot practise become in water, information technology is very important to completely rinse off and wash yourself with soap," Chapa said. "As well, watch your skin for any unusual changes or sores, specially if you have a compromised immune system."
Lastly, before going to your local lake or beach, check the Centers for Disease Command and Prevention's website for health alerts.
Source: https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/fast-facts-flesh-eating-bacteria/