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こちら Japan flag を選択して頂くと、言語設定が日本語に切り替わります。設定変更後は以下の機能が利用可能です。

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閉じる 言語設定を切り替えたい場合には、国旗のマークをクリックして下さい。

By selecting Japan flag, you have now set your language to Japanese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our Japan page, which collates all our Japanese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Japanese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Japanese. Look out for the Japan flag indicators across the site.

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点击选择 China flag,可将网站语言设置为中文。这能帮助您:

  • 快速访问我们的中国区页面,该页面将有网站内容的中文汇总。

  • 在我们的文章、出版物或者网页有中文版本提供的情况下,确保首先向您展示的是中文版本的内容。您可关注站点上的 China flag 按键。

关闭 点击任意其他国旗,可切换您的语言偏好。

By selecting China flag, you have now set your language to Chinese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our China page, which collates all our Chinese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Chinese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Chinese. Look out for the China flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

North has merged with Standard Club to form NorthStandard.
Find out more about NorthStandard here or continue on this site to access information and resources.

Necrotising Fasciitis – Rare but be Aware

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The ‘flesh eating’ disease necrotising fasciitis is thankfully rare, but it can happen to seafarers.

Necrotising Fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection that affects the tissue under the skin surrounding muscles, nerves, fat and blood vessels.  The bacteria cause necrosis, which means the death of the tissues.

The US health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that one in every three cases is fatal – even with treatment.

The offending bacteria live in the gut, throat or skin of some people. However, it does not cause any problems unless it gets into the deep body tissues. This can be through a relatively minor injury such as:

    • Cuts and scrapes
    • Burns
    • Insect bites
    • Puncture or surgical wounds

While necrotising fasciitis is rare, anyone can be affected. But people with other health problems that lower the body’s ability to fight infections such as diabetes, kidney disease or poor general health are more vulnerable. Living in close quarters, such as on a vessel, may also put you at a higher risk.

Although symptoms of necrotising fasciitis are similar to other infections, they appear more rapidly and are more intense.

Early symptoms can include:

    • a small but painful cut or scratch on the skin
    • intense pain that’s out of proportion to any damage to the skin
    • a high temperature (fever) and other flu like symptoms

After a few hours to days, you may develop:

    • swelling and redness in the painful area – the swelling will usually feel firm to the touch
    • diarrhoea and vomiting
    • dark blotches on the skin that turn into fluid-filled blisters

If left untreated, the infection can spread through the body quickly and cause symptoms such as dizziness, weakness and confusion.

Necrotising fasciitis is a very serious illness which requires immediate hospital treatment. It can progress very quickly leading to serious problems such as sepsis and organ failure.

There is no vaccine for necrotising fasciitis. But the following steps may help prevent it:

    • Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors etc.
    • Report any deep or serious wounds so that medical advice can be sought as soon as possible if at sea
    • Treat any wounds or breaks to the skin quickly and ensure they remain clean and dry
    • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
    • Report any symptoms of infection immediately

With thanks to MRL Assist www.mrl-assist.com for providing content for this article.

For more information about Necrotising Fasciitis please visit the following websites;

https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/necrotizing-fasciitis.html

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/necrotising-fasciitis/

https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-and/necrotizing-fasciitis/

Author: MRL Assist
John Webb
Senior Executive (Claims)

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