Necrotising fasciitis is not the same as necrotising myositis. However, the two conditions are very similar and can occur at the same time.
What is the difference between necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis?
Necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis are both soft tissue infections. However, the two conditions are slightly different in that necrotising fasciitis affects the subcutaneous tissue and fascia (connective tissue)., while necrotising myositis affects the muscle.
It is possible that a patient primarily develops necrotising fasciitis, but the bacteria then spread to the muscle, also causing necrotising myositis. Therefore the two conditions can happen concurrently.
Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis
The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis are alike. They include:
- Fever
- Skin that is red and hot to touch
- Intense pain at the site of infection
The intense pain at the site of infection is one of the most telling signs of a soft tissue infection, although it can also cause considerable confusion because there may be no apparent cause.
The location of the pain will be slightly different with necrotising myositis, as it will be limited to the muscle compartment. With necrotising fasciitis the pain will be in the tissue.
Treating necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis
Both necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis will require urgent debridement surgery. Without this treatment, the bacteria will get into the blood stream and cause sepsis, which is the medical term for a blood infection.
Sepsis is very worrying as it can result in dangerously low blood pressure, poor oxygen supply to the vital organs and multi-system organ failure. This can be fatal, with 37,000 people dying of sepsis every year in the UK.
Delayed treatment claim
The only way to avoid potentially fatal complications is with immediate surgical treatment. If doctors do not provide this care in time, there may be a case of medical negligence. To find out if you can claim for necrotising fasciitis or necrotising myositis, please get in touch with us today. We will tell you whether you are entitled to claim compensation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, necrotising fasciitis and necrotising myositis are not the same. Necrotising fasciitis is a soft-tissue infection of the deep tissue and fascia. Necrotising myositis is a soft-tissue infection of the muscle. Each can occur as an isolated condition, or one can lead to the other. Both have similar symptoms and can be fatal if left untreated.
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