GANGRENE SYMPTOMS |
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Areas of either dry or moist gangrene
are initially characterized by a red line on the skin that marks the
border of the affected tissues. As tissues begin to die, dry
gangrene may cause some pain in the early stages or may go unnoticed,
especially in the elderly or in those individuals with diminished
sensation to the affected area. Initially, the area becomes cold,
numb, and pale before later changing in color to brown, then black.
This dead tissue will gradually separate from the healthy tissue and
fall off.
Moist gangrene and gas gangrene are distinctly different. Gas
gangrene does not involve the skin as much, but usually only the
muscle. In moist or gas gangrene, there is a sensation of heaviness
in the affected region that is followed by severe pain. The pain is
caused by swelling resulting from fluid or gas accumulation in the
tissues. This pain peaks, on average, between one to four days
following the injury, with a range of eight hours to several weeks.
The swollen skin may initially be blistered, red, and warm to the
touch before progressing to a bronze, brown, or black color. In
approximately 80% of cases, the affected and surrounding tissues may
produce crackling sounds (crepitus), as a result of gas bubbles
accumulating under the skin. The gas may be felt beneath the skin
(palpable). In wet gangrene, the pus is foul-smelling, while in gas
gangrene, there is no true pus, just an almost "sweet" smelling
watery discharge.
Fever, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, altered mental state, loss
of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and vascular collapse may also
occur if the bacterial toxins are allowed to spread in the
bloodstream. Gas gangrene can be a life-threatening condition and
should receive prompt medical attention. |
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| GANGRENE RELATED ITEMS |
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