man almost loses leg to potentially fatal flesh-eating disease

**KEVIN2008** · 16-12-2015, 11:17 AM

Irish man almost loses leg to potentially fatal flesh-eating disease

Whiteside (25) was airlifted to Bangkok Hospital where a specialised surgical team operated on him

A young Irish man's dream holiday quickly turned into a nightmare after he fell victim to a rare flesh eating disease while travelling in Asia.
Ben Whiteside (25) had been exploring the region with his girlfriend Anneka Shally when he contracted necrotising fasciitis, a rapidly progressive bacteria which can take a life in a matter of days if left untreated.

The couple were based in Laos at the time they realised that Ben was seriously ill but the hospital there was not equipped to deal with his condition.

Ben, from Co Down, was airlifted to Bangkok Hospital where a specialised surgical team operated on him immediately.

Anneka has praised the medical team in Thailand for their speedy actions - and attributes their expertise in saving her boyfriend's life.

However, because of the severity of Ben's condition, the young man must remain in the hospital in Bangkok until the infection is fully cleared from his body.

The Queen's University graduate will then need to be transported to London where he will continue to receive medical treatment, closer to home and under the NHS system.

However, the couple have already incurred significant costs due to Ben's emergency medical treatment thus far.

"Ben was incredibly lucky to come out of this as strong as he has, however the treatment which saved his life is totalling at quite a significant cost," Anneka said.

A fundraising campaign has been launched in an attempt to recoup some of the couple's financial expense.

With a target of £20,000 (€28,300), the online appeal has proven extremely successful - raising over £14,000 in less than 24 hours.

"We have been truly overwhelmed by the response to this campaign," Anneka said.

"I set a goal of 20K aspiring to raise half the funds to cover Ben’s medicals fees and looming repatriation costs."

Man almost loses leg to potentially fatal flesh-eating disease / Sunday World

**KEVIN2008** · 16-12-2015, 11:26 AM

Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria)

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare infection that's often described in media reports as a condition involving "flesh-eating bacteria." It can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly and aggressively in an infected person. It causes tissue death at the infection site and beyond.

Every year, between 600 and 700 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. About 25% to 30% of those cases result in death. It rarely occurs in children.

How Do You Get Necrotizing Fasciitis?
The bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis can enter the body following surgery or injury. They can also enter the body through:

minor cuts
insect bites
abrasions
In some cases, it is unknown how the infection began. Once it takes hold, the infection rapidly destroys muscle, skin, and fat tissue.

Causes of Necrotizing Fasciitis
Necrotizing fasciitis is commonly caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria. That's the same type of bacteria that causes strep throat. However, several types of bacteria, such as staphylococcus and others, have also been associated with the disease.

Necrotizing fasciitis occurs when such bacteria infect the superficial fascia, a layer of connective tissue below the skin.

Symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis
The symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis usually occur within the first 24 hours of infection. They often include a combination of the following:

Increasing pain in the general area of a minor cut, abrasion, or other skin opening.
Pain that is worse than would be expected from the appearance of the cut or abrasion.
Redness and warmth around the wound, though symptoms can begin at other areas of the body.
Flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, fever, dizziness, weakness, and general malaise.
Intense thirst due to dehydration.

Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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