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FLESH-EATING DISEASE (Necrotizing Fasciitis)

Necrotizing fasciitis is an extremely severe form of cellulitis that destroys infected tissue under the skin.

A particularly nasty strain of Streptococcus causes this infection. It's contracted in the same way as any other cellulitis, but it proceeds to destroy tissue at a rapid pace (some call it "flesh-eating disease"). The skin takes on a violet color, and large fluid-filled blisters (bullae) and gangrene may develop. The person usually feels very ill and has a fever, a rapid heart rate, and mental deterioration ranging from confusion to unconsciousness. Blood pressure may fall because large amounts of fluid are excreted into the infected area.



The treatment for necrotizing fasciitis is antibiotic therapy and surgical removal of the dead tissue. In some cases, an affected arm or leg may have to be amputated. The death rate is about 30 percent. Elderly people, those who have other medical problems, and those in whom the disease has reached an advanced stage have a poor prognosis.



Chickenpox may also be associated with other serious complicationssuch as:

1. necrotizing fasciitis(flesh-eating disease)


2. osteomyelitis (inflammation of thebone)


3. bacteremia (blood infection)


4. endocarditis (inflammation of thelining of the heart)


5. pneumonia


6. encephalitis (inflammation of thebrain)

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