Download Flesh Eating Disease

Definition
Flesh eating disease, also known as necrotizing fasciitis (nek-roe-tie-zing fah-shee-eye-tis) is a rare illness that
causes extensive tissue destruction and can lead to death. In Canada, there are 90 to 150 cases each year. In the
Ottawa-Carleton region, there have been six reported cases this year.
Cause
Flesh eating disease can be caused by a number of different bacteria, one of them being the group A streptococcus.
This is a common bacteria which causes infections, such as a sore or strep throat, in children and young adults. Ten
to 15 per cent of school age children may carry group A streptococcus in their throat and have no symptoms. This
same bacteria also causes scarlet fever, impetigo and rheumatic fever.
Sometimes group A streptococcus causes serious diseases such as pneumonia, streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome,
and necrotizing fasciitis.
Signs of infection
A person may show no signs or symptoms, or they may have fever, sore throat, rash, or sores on the skin. Very
rarely, these symptoms may progress quickly to severe illness with high fever, headache, and very painful skin
infection which spreads rapidly at a rate of two to three centimetres (an inch) per hour. Death can occur in 12 to 24
hours. If you or a member of your family display these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Group A strep infection may follow chickenpox. If the fever from chickenpox does not go down by day three, or
goes down and goes back up, or redness, swelling or pain develops around a healing chickenpox sore, see a doctor
without delay.
How the disease is spread
The disease can be transferred through direct contact with fluid from the nose and throat of an infected person, for
example, through kissing, or sharing cutlery. It is also spread through direct contact with secretions from infected
sores on the skin.
Casual contact, such as shaking hands, riding on the same school bus or being in the same classroom rarely results in
infection. While group A streptococcus is passed from person to person, flesh eating disease is not.
In instances where serious disease develops, the presence of sore throat is very unusual.
Who is at risk?
It is not known why a person may develop a sore throat, and why occasionally a person may develop serious illness.
Most cases of severe disease are single occurrences and their contacts rarely become ill.
Prevention
Good personal hygiene measures such as proper disposal of soiled tissues, frequent hand washing, thorough
cleansing of wounds and cuts are important. People with signs of illness and/or infection should seek medical
advice.
Treatment
Group A Strep infections are treated with antibiotics. Hospitalization may be necessary when severe disease occurs.
For more information, please contact:
Health Protection Branch of Health Canada at (613) 957-2991 or
The City of Ottawa Public Health Branch at (613) 580-6744 ext. 24280
Or follow these links:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/flesh-chair_e.html
The City of Ottawa Public Health Branch
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/cd/strepa_en.html