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Essay On Flesh-Eating Disease

Decent Essays
Scientists are baffled by the cause for the surge in the flesh-eating disease that is spreading in some countries such as Japan and the UK. Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported that 525 patients suffering from streptococcal shock syndrome were hospitalized. The number of flesh-eating disease patients in Japan has more than doubled since 2013 when 203 cases were recorded, Daily Star reported.

In the UK, 132 cases have been reported since April 1, 2016. It is part of the streptococcus outbreak in London and surrounding areas. Authorities have declared an outbreak over 18 months ago, CBC reported.

Rare but serious bacterial infection

According to Medicinenet.com, the flesh-eating bacteria are a very rare but serious
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Kikuchi warned elderly Japanese to be careful about the swelling of their feet and to see a doctor immediately if it happens.

Very rare infection

Because it is still a very rare infection, Dr. Michael Silverman, an infectious disease specialist with London Health Sciences Centre, said that the disease damages tissues under the skin and causes it to die. While necrotizing fasciitis can be tricky to recognize, he said that if detected early, it is treatable.

The processes have to be stopped urgently. It often requires a combination of medications, antibiotics, and surgery to drain the infection and let the pus out. Silverman said that one warning sign is when the pain begins to radiate outward from a cut or scrape.

He explained that it is not just a paper cut where there is feeling where the little cut is. He added that it is something where someone may have a cut on the finger and that hand or the whole arm is beginning to really hurt. Silverman described it as a severe deep pain.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the strep A bacteria is usually contracted when it enters the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut, scrape, bug bite, or puncture wound, Public Opinion reported.

In the US, there are only a small amount of cases with 600 to 1,200 occurring annually since 2010. But the CDC acknowledged that it is likely an underestimate.

Stopping the spread

The disease can
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