Gangrene Symptoms

Gangrene is the death or decay of part of the tissue or an organ of the body caused by a lack of blood to the area. Once gangrene sets in, the person's life is in danger and the body part must be amputated as quickly as possible in an effort to save the person´s life.

Dry Gangrene

• The symptoms of dry gangrene are localized redness, numbness and coldness. The skin of the affected part has a brown appearance in the center and then begins to turn black around the outside.

Moist Gangrene

• In moist gangrene, the tissue is damp, soft, putrid, extremely painful and black. It is accompanied by oozing, swelling, a foul smell and, finally, a fever.

Gas Gangrene

• Gas gangrene causes the tissue below the skin to be extremely painful and to ooze a brownish red or bloody discharge. When the area is pressed there is a distinct crackling sound, and the person has a high fever, rapid breathing and increased heart rate as the infection enters the bloodstream.

Complication Symptoms of Gangrene

• Septicemia occurs when bacteria get in the blood and is one of the complication symptoms of gangrene. Its symptoms are sweating, shivering, chills, high fever, flushing, general aches, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Specific Gangrene

• In noma gangrene the gums and lining of the cheeks swell and ulcers develop. The breath and skin have a foul odor caused by the foul-smelling drainage that comes from the ulcers on the cheek lining.