Gangrene Disease

Gangrene is a disease that causes necrosis, or cell death, and decay. It's most common in the fingers, toes and other extremities but it can occur anywhere in the body.

Causes

• Gangrene is caused by any part of the body losing its blood flow. Without blood, the cells cannot survive, and they die. Some of the most common forms of gangrene are caused by infections but some are caused by blood vessel diseases like atherosclerosis.

Symptoms

• Gangrene can cause symptoms like tenderness in the affected area, blue or black discoloration of the skin and smelly discharge from sores. Symptoms of septic shock caused by gangrene include fever and light-headedness.

Risk Factors

• Gangrene is most likely to affect the elderly and those with diabetes and blood vessel disease. Obstructed or interrupted blood flow is a complication of these diseases that increases the risk of gangrene.

Treatment

• Surgery is the primary treatment for gangrene because dead tissue can not be repaired. Antibiotics are used to treat gangrene infections including septic shock.

Prevention

• Taking care of your diabetes and preventing infection are ways to prevent getting gangrene. Quitting smoking is also recommended because use of tobacco can damage the blood vessels.