In this article we look at the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis, which is a bacterial infection of the soft tissues.
What are the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis?
The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis are:
- Intense pain in the tissue
- Skin that is red and hot to touch
- Fever
- Discoloured skin, turning dark red to purple/black
- Blistered skin
The progression of these symptoms is explained in more detail below.
Progression of symptoms
Necrotising fasciitis is an infection of the deep tissue (subcutaneous tissue) and connective tissue (fascia). It is caused by bacteria which get into the deep tissues and reproduce. This process releases a toxin into the body which breaks down the nearby tissue.
The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis will begin when the bacteria get into the tissue and start to multiply. At first there will be an intense pain inside the tissue where the bacteria are releasing the chemical.
This pain will be severe and will not have an obvious cause. This can often delay a diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis as the patient/medical practitioners cannot understand what the source of the pain is. There may be some form of injury, such as a surgical wound or cut. However, the pain will be totally disproportionate.
Next the skin at the site of the pain will turn red and be hot to touch. The patient will also have a fever, with a high temperature, chills and generally feeling very unwell.
The symptoms thereafter are mainly to do with changes to the skin. It will continue to turn darker in colour, possibly turning purple and black. There may also be pus-filled blisters called bullae. When the skin is black in colour it is necrotic – i.e. dead. An open wound will develop in the absence of healthy tissue.
It is also important to note that the site of infection will grow in size as the bacteria continue to reproduce. Therefore the extent of the discoloured/necrotic tissue can increase dramatically, particularly if treatment is delayed.
Delayed treatment of necrotising fasciitis
Because necrotising fasciitis can quickly cause a large area of dead tissue, the condition must be treated quickly. Treatment should consist of debridement surgery and intravenous antibiotics.
If medical practitioners fail to treat necrotising fasciitis in timely manner – perhaps because of a delayed diagnosis – there could be grounds for a medical compensation claim. For more information about compensation claims for necrotising fasciitis, please contact us today.
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