If necrotising fasciitis is not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can be fatal. In this article we explore necrotising fasciitis fatalities in more detail.
Necrotising fasciitis deaths
Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive bacterial disease. It is a serious condition that takes hold very quickly. From the moment the bacteria enter the body, a patient can potentially become critically ill within 48 hours, although it will not be this fast in every case.
Fatal complications arise so quickly because the bacteria get into the body’s deep tissue. There they begin to reproduce, releasing a toxin that destroys the surrounding tissue, muscle and fascia. This causes the blood supply to break down and eventually the tissue will die.
As the bacteria continue to reproduce, they will spread creating a larger area of infection. Because they are in the body’s deep tissues, the bacteria will soon reach the bloodstream, leading to a condition called sepsis.
Sepsis is very troubling as it can soon result in septic shock and multi-organ failure. This can, of course, be fatal.
Can you survive necrotising fasciitis?
That is not to say that necrotising fasciitis will be fatal in every case. Many people survive the condition and go on to make a full recovery. However, this is entirely dependent upon an early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
As long as medical practitioners recognise the problem and provide effective treatment in a timely fashion, the infection can be brought under control – before it becomes too widespread.
But if there is a delay, the infection will cause a large area of necrotic tissue, and may also infect the bloodstream. These complications can be fatal, particularly for those who already have a weakened immune system.
What if there is a delay in treatment?
If there is a delay in treatment and this leads to a fatality, the standard of medical care must be called into question.
There are times when treatment will be delayed because the patient did not seek medical attention until it was too late, believing that they were suffering a more minor condition such as flu.
Nevertheless, there are also times when a delay occurs because doctors fail to make a diagnosis, and/or fail to provide treatment as a matter of urgency.
If a patient dies from necrotising fasciitis because of medical error, there will be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim. This can be made on behalf of the deceased’s estate and can be pursued by their family members.
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