Watch for:. Taking antibiotics before or after having surgery, under the care of your doctor, may help you prevent the development of gangrenous infections. Blood poisoning is a serious infection. It occurs when bacteria are in the bloodstream. Despite its name, the infection has nothing to do with poison…. The term gallbladder disease refers to several types of conditions that can affect the organ. Here are the various symptoms, treatments, and potential…. An open wound is an injury involving an external or internal break in your body tissue, usually involving the skin.
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The plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly. It's caused by poor sanitation, overcrowding, and large rodent populations. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Types of gangrene. Images of gangrene. Who is at risk for developing gangrene? Recognizing the signs of gangrene.
How is gangrene diagnosed? Gangrene treatment. What is the long-term outlook for gangrene? How to prevent gangrene. Read this next. Gas Gangrene. Gangrene and Diabetes: Know the Facts. Medically reviewed by Tyler Walker, MD. Gallbladder Disease. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.
A higher than normal amount of white blood cells, for example, can mean you have an infection. Your healthcare provider may take samples of tissue or fluid from the affected area and look at in the lab. If your healthcare provider thinks you may have internal gangrene, he or she may order imaging tests or surgery to find out for sure.
Because gangrene can spread rapidly over a large area of the body, the amount of dead tissue can be quite large. Treating these large areas may result in:. You can help prevent gangrene by carefully watching any wounds you have and getting immediate attention if signs of infection develop.
Gangrene is a medical emergency. The outlook with gangrene depends on the location and size of the affected area, as well as any other medical conditions you might have.
Gangrene is often life-threatening, so immediate medical care is crucial. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Gangrene comes in 2 forms, dry and wet: Dry gangrene occurs when the blood supply to tissue is cut off. The area becomes dry, shrinks, and turns black. Wet gangrene occurs if bacteria invade this tissue. This makes the area swell, drain fluid, and smell bad.
What causes gangrene? Gangrene happens when blood supply to certain tissues is stopped. This can happen due to: An infection An injury such as a burn or combat wound A chronic disease Chronic diseases that harm the circulatory system include diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and Raynaud's disease. Who is at risk for gangrene?
What are the symptoms of gangrene? These are other symptoms of gangrene: Coldness and numbness in the affected area Pain in or beyond the affected area Redness and swelling around a wound this is often present when wet gangrene develops Sores that keep cropping up in the same place Persistent, unexplained fever, with a temperature higher than How is gangrene diagnosed? How is gangrene treated? Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment plan for you based on: Your age, overall health, and medical history How sick you are How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies If your condition is expected to get worse The opinion of the healthcare providers involved in your care Your opinion and preference Treatment of gangrene will usually consist of 1 or more of these procedures: Antibiotics.
These medicines can be used to kill bacteria in the affected area. They are used only when wet gangrene is present Surgery to remove the dead tissue. Your risk of gangrene is higher if you have an underlying condition that can damage your blood vessels and affect blood flow, such as diabetes or hardened arteries atherosclerosis. Treatments for gangrene include surgery to restore blood flow and remove dead tissue, antibiotics if there is an infection, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The earlier gangrene is identified and treated, the better your chances for recovery. If you have a type of gangrene that affects tissues beneath the surface of your skin, such as gas gangrene or internal gangrene, you may also have a low-grade fever and generally feel unwell.
If the germs that caused the gangrene spread through your body, septic shock can occur. Signs and symptoms of septic shock include:. Gangrene is a serious condition and needs emergency treatment.
Call your doctor right away if you have persistent, unexplained pain in any area of your body along with one or more of the following signs and symptoms:. Gangrene results when blood flow to a certain area of your body is interrupted, causing tissue decay and death.
Gangrene often affects the fingers or toes. Wet gangrene. Gangrene is referred to as wet if there's a bacterial infection in the affected tissue. Swelling, blistering and a wet appearance are common features of wet gangrene. Wet gangrene may develop after a severe burn, frostbite or injury. It often occurs in people with diabetes who unknowingly injure a toe or foot. Wet gangrene needs to be treated immediately because it spreads quickly and can be deadly. Gas gangrene.
Gas gangrene typically affects deep muscle tissue. If you have gas gangrene, the surface of your skin may look normal at first. As the condition worsens, your skin may become pale and then turn gray or purplish red. The skin may look bubbly and may make a crackling sound when you press on it because of the gas within the tissue. Gas gangrene is most commonly caused by infection with a bacterium called Clostridium perfringens.
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