Necrotising fasciitis is a life-threatening disease which, at worst, can kill a patient within days and, at best, will leave the patient with severe scarring and tissue damage. Does age influence the likelihood of contracting and surviving the condition?
What is necrotising fasciitis?
Necrotising fasciitis is a bacterial infection. It is usually contracted when bacteria enters the deep, soft tissue of the body through a cut to the skin. The bacteria spread rapidly through the body, destroying infected tissue and threatening major organs.
Treatment requires removal of all infection and damaged tissue through surgical debridement.
Age and necrotising fasciitis
Susceptibility to contracting the disease
- One study in the Netherlands found that patients ranged in age from 21 to 81, fifty per cent of whom were aged over 62, suggesting a greater prevalence in older patients
- An American report identifies the mean age of patients as being between 38 – 44 years old
- Necrotising fasciitis rarely occurs in children but can occur in young people who are otherwise healthy
Generally, it would seem that patients over 60 years of age are more susceptible to developing necrotising fasciitis.
Risk of mortality
There is also some indication that increased age may make it more likely that a patient will die from necrotising fasciitis.
- The Dutch study found that the ages of patients who died from necrotising fasciitis ranged from 38 to 72 years but with a median age of 59, suggesting that half of the patients who died were aged between 59 and 72.
- A study reported in ‘Frontiers in Surgery’ found that patients over 50 years of age had a higher risk of mortality from the condition.
However, it may also be that older patients are also suffering with other conditions, such as diabetes or heart problems, which may reduce their chances of survival.
Additional risk factors
Other factors which may make a person more susceptible to developing necrotising fasciitis are as follows:
- Suffering from diabetes
- Chronic heart or liver conditions
- Being overweight
- Having a weakened immune system
Medical Negligence
Prompt treatment of necrotising fasciitis is vital in order to give the patient the best chance, not only of survival, but of having to suffer the minimum degree of surgical debridement.
An early diagnosis is therefore desirable and a failure to recognise the signs and symptoms of the condition, leading to a poor patient outcome, may be considered to have been negligent.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a love one have suffered the appalling effects of necrotising fasciitis due to a failure to diagnose, contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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