Symptoms start quickly and can be tricky.
People who’ve contracted necrotizing fasciitis often begin having symptoms within a few hours after an injury. Unfortunately, symptoms can be confusing – mimic another illness or injury.
For example, pain or soreness may be mistaken for a pulled muscle. In most cases, the infection appears as red or purplish areas of swelling that spread rapidly and are warm to the touch. Others have experienced ulcers, blisters, or black spots on the skin. Late onset symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting
Proper wound care is key!
- Don’t delay treatment, whether minor or non-infected wounds.
- Keep open wounds covered.
- Use clean, dry bandages.
- Keep wounds covered until fully healed, especially if you are working in floodwaters.
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Seek medical attention in the event of redness or swelling of a wound.
- A physician’s first line of defense is strong antibiotics given through a needle into a vein (IV antibiotics).