Gangrene, A Sign Of COVID-19: The Case Study
The major findings from the study based on the 65-year-old patient are as follows:
What Is Gangrene?
Gangrene happens when tissues in your body die after a loss of blood caused by illness, injury, or infection [8]. This often occurs because the tissue is not getting enough blood from your circulatory system. Gangrene can be external or internal.
Gangrene commonly affects the arms and legs, including the toes and fingers. Still, it can also occur in the muscles and organs inside the body, such as the gallbladder. The condition typically starts in a specific body part. It can spread through your body and cause you to go into shock if left untreated [9].
Gangrene is a medical emergency that could lead to amputations or death.
What Are The Types Of Gangrene?
Gangrene is primarily of three types [10]:
(1) Dry gangrene: Dry gangrene occurs when one of your body parts is not getting enough oxygen, causing the body to deteriorate and die slowly. In the case of dry gangrene, the skin is closed, and there is no evidence of infection.
(2) Gas gangrene: The bacteria causing gangrene can create an infection that causes gas bubbles and toxins to develop inside the affected area, resulting in tissue death. This type of gangrene can be fatal.
(3) Wet gangrene: Wet gangrene happens when your body tissues become infected with some bacteria, causing your tissues to become moist and resulting in the death of your tissues. It is severe than dry gangrene because of the possibility of infection spreading to other parts of the body.
What Are The Signs Of Gangrene?
The signs of external gangrene are as follows [11]:
- A reddish line develops around the affected tissue, which eventually turns black
- A wound that is red, sore, or swollen
- A wound that is filled with pus or gives off a bad smell
- Lacking the sense of touch in an isolated area (coldness)
- Blisters
- Swelling
- Thin, shiny skin, or skin without hair
The signs of internal gangrene are as follows:
In this case, you may not have any symptoms on your skin or limbs. But can experience the following:
What Are Gangrene Complications?
If not treated immediately, gangrene can lead to serious complications because the bacteria can spread quickly to other tissues and organs. Removal of infected tissue can lead to scarring or the need for reconstructive surgery. In severe cases, one needs to have a body part removed (amputated) to avoid fatality [14].
How Is Gangrene Diagnosed?
The doctor may suspect that you have gangrene based on your medical history and symptoms and may use a combination of additional diagnostic methods.
- Tissue and fluid sample analysis
- Blood tests
- X-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans
- Surgery (to get a better look at the tissue)
How Is Gangrene Treated?
The tissue that has been damaged by gangrene cannot be saved. However, steps can be taken to prevent gangrene from getting worse [15].
- Antibiotics
- Vascular surgery
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (done inside a chamber pressurised with pure oxygen)
- Tissue debridement (removes infected tissue and stop the infection from spreading)
- Amputation (in severe cases)
- Skin grafting (reconstructive surgery)
- Prevent infections by washing open wounds with mild soap and water and try to keep them clean and dry until they heal.
- Avoid tobacco use.
- Avoid getting overweight as excess weight can put you at risk of diabetes and place pressure on the arteries, limit the blood flow, and increase the risk of infection and slow wound healing.
- Care for your diabetes; watch out for any swelling, discharge, or redness that may indicate infection, a wound that does not seem to be healing or a change in the colour of your skin.
How To Prevent Gangrene?
While gangrene associated with COVID-19 may not be a preventable one, the common gangrene that develops on its own can be prevented through the following measures. Here are a few ways that can help reduce one's risk of developing gangrene:
On A Final Note…
The patient, 65 years old, who tested COVID-positive, was found to have gangrene signs and symptoms before the typical upper-respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 began developing.