Gangrene- Don’t wait to lose a limb
GANGRENE, is one of those diseases many people ignore until it reaches its dangerous stages, usually resulting in amputation. It is a complication which involves cell death, characterising the decay of the body tissues.
By Gilbert Kidimu
GANGRENE, is one of those diseases many people ignore until it reaches its dangerous stages, usually resulting in amputation. It is a complication which involves cell death, characterising the decay of the body tissues.
The tissues become black or green due to lack of oxygen because blood vessels especially the arteries, are blocked.
Causes
The most common cause is the loss of an effective local blood supply to any tissue. Loss of the blood supply means the tissues are deprived of oxygen, thus causing the cells to die.
Dr. Wilberforce Kabweru of Mulago Hospital says infections occur when arteries are wounded. Bite wounds introduce bacteria which inflame the wounds into becoming gangrous.
Diabetics, lepers, sickle cell patients, drug addicts and smokers are the most susceptible to it.
According to Dr Kabweru, gangrene cases are common in Mulago Hospital especially the surgical ward. “Patients who have been bedridden for long get pressure sores which eventually lead to wet gangrene.â€
Types
It is common to notice a dark smudge on your skin and remain complacent because visiting doctors is not a priority. But you may be a pending victim to a fatal condition that could have otherwise been stopped.
Dr Faisal Kazibwe, of Medicare Clinic and Nursing Home cites three types of gangrene — gas, dry and wet.
Dry gangrene begins at the distal part of the limb and often occurs in the toes and feet.
It spreads slowly until it reaches a point where the blood supply is inadequate to keep the tissue viable.
Wet gangrene which is more common occurs in naturally moist tissues such as the mouth. Bedsores occurring on body parts such as the back and buttocks, although not necessarily moist areas, are also categorised as wet gangrene infections.
Gas gangrene is a bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues. It is a deadly form of virus usually caused by bacteria.
“Because of its ability to quickly spread to surrounding tissues, gas gangrene should be treated as a medical emergency lest the patient dies in just hours,†says Dr Kabweru.
Symptoms
Sometimes it is a normal wound which fails to heal and then results into gangrene. When the skin turns green or black, swellings and body pain, could be forewarnings of the disease.
Recommendations
Among drug users, the numerous intramuscular injections they use injure the arteries. This affects the normal supply of blood to tissues, consequently resulting into gangrene.
Diabetics have sugars everywhere and sugars are a good medium for multiplication of bacteria.
By the time the affected area changes colour to green or black, it is already dead; therefore it should be cut off.
Gangrene is not cancer and does not lead to cancer.
The two are different in the sense that while cancer cells become uncontrollable in growth, there is continuous death of cells in the case of gangrene.
Diagnosis and treatment
“X-rays, CTs and magnetic resonance imaging studies are done to determine the infecting agents, the type of gangrene and extent of the infection. You can take a biopsy (cutting off a skin) to isolate the cause which could be bacterial or viral,†explains Dr. Kabweru.
Treatment is usually done by application of antibiotics although gangrene treatment is fundamentally surgical. Biopsy has to be done in the affected area to prevent further spread of the infection.
The earlier you treat gangrene the less its impact on your health. “If you do not seek treatment early, gangrene will eat away an entire joint hence leading to amputation of the arm or leg,†says Dr. Kazibwe.
Treatment of gangrene usually involves surgery, medical treatment, supportive care, and occasionally, rehabilitation.
There is no specific diet to stop or control the spread of gangrene.
Rather than treating other underlying medical conditions like diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and giving up smoking abbreviates the condition.
Cost
According to Dr. Kabweru, treatment is free of charge in Mulago’s Hospital’s general ward. Dan Okalebo, the billing assistant in Mulago’s private ward says treatment in this section costs sh500,000 for outpatients although an additional fee for accommodation is paid by patients admitted.
Curtain rooms cost sh30,000, single rooms sh40,000 while VIP rooms go for sh100,000 a day.
GANGRENE, is one of those diseases many people ignore until it reaches its dangerous stages, usually resulting in amputation. It is a complication which involves cell death, characterising the decay of the body tissues.
The tissues become black or green due to lack of oxygen because blood vessels especially the arteries, are blocked.
Causes
The most common cause is the loss of an effective local blood supply to any tissue. Loss of the blood supply means the tissues are deprived of oxygen, thus causing the cells to die.
Dr. Wilberforce Kabweru of Mulago Hospital says infections occur when arteries are wounded. Bite wounds introduce bacteria which inflame the wounds into becoming gangrous.
Diabetics, lepers, sickle cell patients, drug addicts and smokers are the most susceptible to it.
According to Dr Kabweru, gangrene cases are common in Mulago Hospital especially the surgical ward. “Patients who have been bedridden for long get pressure sores which eventually lead to wet gangrene.â€
Types
It is common to notice a dark smudge on your skin and remain complacent because visiting doctors is not a priority. But you may be a pending victim to a fatal condition that could have otherwise been stopped.
Dr Faisal Kazibwe, of Medicare Clinic and Nursing Home cites three types of gangrene — gas, dry and wet.
Dry gangrene begins at the distal part of the limb and often occurs in the toes and feet.
It spreads slowly until it reaches a point where the blood supply is inadequate to keep the tissue viable.
Wet gangrene which is more common occurs in naturally moist tissues such as the mouth. Bedsores occurring on body parts such as the back and buttocks, although not necessarily moist areas, are also categorised as wet gangrene infections.
Gas gangrene is a bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues. It is a deadly form of virus usually caused by bacteria.
“Because of its ability to quickly spread to surrounding tissues, gas gangrene should be treated as a medical emergency lest the patient dies in just hours,†says Dr Kabweru.
Symptoms
Sometimes it is a normal wound which fails to heal and then results into gangrene. When the skin turns green or black, swellings and body pain, could be forewarnings of the disease.
Recommendations
Among drug users, the numerous intramuscular injections they use injure the arteries. This affects the normal supply of blood to tissues, consequently resulting into gangrene.
Diabetics have sugars everywhere and sugars are a good medium for multiplication of bacteria.
By the time the affected area changes colour to green or black, it is already dead; therefore it should be cut off.
Gangrene is not cancer and does not lead to cancer.
The two are different in the sense that while cancer cells become uncontrollable in growth, there is continuous death of cells in the case of gangrene.
Diagnosis and treatment
“X-rays, CTs and magnetic resonance imaging studies are done to determine the infecting agents, the type of gangrene and extent of the infection. You can take a biopsy (cutting off a skin) to isolate the cause which could be bacterial or viral,†explains Dr. Kabweru.
Treatment is usually done by application of antibiotics although gangrene treatment is fundamentally surgical. Biopsy has to be done in the affected area to prevent further spread of the infection.
The earlier you treat gangrene the less its impact on your health. “If you do not seek treatment early, gangrene will eat away an entire joint hence leading to amputation of the arm or leg,†says Dr. Kazibwe.
Treatment of gangrene usually involves surgery, medical treatment, supportive care, and occasionally, rehabilitation.
There is no specific diet to stop or control the spread of gangrene.
Rather than treating other underlying medical conditions like diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and giving up smoking abbreviates the condition.
Cost
According to Dr. Kabweru, treatment is free of charge in Mulago’s Hospital’s general ward. Dan Okalebo, the billing assistant in Mulago’s private ward says treatment in this section costs sh500,000 for outpatients although an additional fee for accommodation is paid by patients admitted.
Curtain rooms cost sh30,000, single rooms sh40,000 while VIP rooms go for sh100,000 a day.