Article #3

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1491170-overview

This infectious disease is called “Myiasis” and it’s ultimately larvae entering into a wound and hatching inside the skin. I thought that this was interesting, and I thought that one part in particular was intriguing. I thought that the fact homelessness, heart disease and alcoholism, of all things, was prevalent in many cases.

I also thought it was peculiar that it is associated  with the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, eyes, and intestinal tissue. I think this is something to note mostly because they are incredibly important areas of the body.

I also like the intense amount of gore that comes with this disease. It’s pretty cool looking.

 

An example of Myiasis in the eye

necrotizing fasciitis, or, the flesh eating disease…

UGH.

So, I came across this very interesting disease as I was looking around the Internet.  It’s called, “necrotizing fasciitis,” which, for you word-lovers, means “death” and “inflammation of the skin,” or, in everyday terms, it is the one and only, flesh-eating disease.  Let’s just start by talking about how gross this disease is.

First, imagine what dying skin looks like.  If you are picturing an arm with flaps of charred, blackened skin – because of course, what kind of blood is left in dying skin – hanging off of the

body, barely covering the bruised, pus-filled “skin” – if we can even call it skin – lying underneath…then you are absolutely correct!  Let’s visualize, shall we? Say you’re sick, and you accidentally cut yourself as you scrape your hand on the desk.  Unbeknownst to you, on that desk is Staphylococcus aureus, which is the same bacteria that causes a staph infection.  Unfortunately for you, your sickness leaves you very vulnerable to this bacteria, which then enters your body and begins to rapidly multiply in the wound.

Wasn’t it just a cut? Why do you suddenly feel throbbing at the wound?  And nausea.  Oops, and the dreaded diarrhea.  Hours later, the site is swollen, and lo and behold, you now have purple, blistered, pus-filled, deadened skin attached to your body.

What happened? While it is called the “flesh-eating disease,” bacteria do not actually eat away at the tissue or the skin. As with most other pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus releases toxins which set off the immune system (the T-cells) to produce cytokines – which, apparently can kill you.  Looking at these pictures, I can see why.  Oh, and that? That was a picture of someone who is RECOVERING from this disease.  Want to see what it’s like WITH the disease before the surgery and pain? Of course you do: click here.