What is phlegmon?
Phlegmon is purulent inflammation of tissue without clear boundaries, causing the destruction of the tissues. This disease often affects the blood and lymph vessels. Phlegmon often cover large areas of skin. Upper and lower limbs are often particularly affected. Doctors distinguish phlegmon breast, scrotum and neck or internal organs.
Symptoms of phlegmon
- Redness of the skin.
- Pain, fever.
- Impaired function of the affected body part.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
Causes of phlegmon
Phlegmon most often caused by staphylococci, streptococci rarely, coliform bacteria and other microbes. Often the bacteria penetrate from the outside through the affected skin or mucous membranes. Skin damage can be so mild that people do not pay attention to them, such as acne, wound from an insect bite or needle stick, an abscess. Less common so-called progressive inflammation, in which the bacteria penetrate the blood flow in the subcutaneous layers, causing phlegmon. However, pathogens can spread only if the weakened defenses. Medication can weaken the immune system too.
Treatment of phlegmon
The first phase of timely treatment is usually an immobilizing the affected part of the body and performing a cold compress. With the defeat of the forearm doctors impose special fixing the tire on the upper limb. Cold compresses applied to 30% solution of isopropyl alcohol. Such treatment abscess begins to diminish after a few hours, and eventually completely go away. When tissue festered and chronic inflammation, treatment is antibiotics, skin smear reduces swelling ointments. If the treatment fails, the patient is being operated. After the operation, the wound is left drains, antiseptic lotions is being imposed on wound.
At the beginning of the disease should apply a cold compress to the affected area. They should be changed frequently, avoiding them be heating! If there was pus, the affected area of the body will have been washed with warm water several times a day. Self-treatment phlegmon is allowed only in the early stages of the disease. With the progression of phlegmon you should see a doctor.
Due to possible complications (infection can spread to the internal organs hit) phlegmon physician should always be treated.
In progressive phlegmon and a weakened immune system, the doctor refers the patient to the hospital.
Course of the disease
Phlegmon is often formed in a few hours. There are symptoms of inflammation - the skin turns red, becomes hot and painful. The function of the affected part of the body is broken. Phlegmon is characterized by the lack of clear boundaries redness Deep subcutaneous tissues become swollen. Initially tissue resemble dough and later connective tissue gradually eroded, compacted. There is the so-called woody phlegmon. Phlegmon is always very painful. If the infection is caused by streptococcus, often the patient has a fever, worsening overall health. If the infection is caused by staphylococcus, the symptoms are expressed not so bright. As the disease progresses, pus accumulates in the deeper layers of tissue. Lymph nodes near the phlegmon increases. Phlegmon is different from the abscess, it is characterized by swelling of the tissues, but little pus. In the absence of timely treatment, it quickly spread to nearby tissue and deeply, covering the blood and lymph vessels and nerves. Later, there may be complications: venous thrombosis, sepsis, when the penetration of pus in the surrounding tissue may inflammation of the joints and muscles.
Is phlegmon a dangerous disease?
If the phlegmon is repeated, deep subcutaneous layers so devastated, unable to complete healing, tissue remain tight and swollen. Getting into the blood and lymph, causative agents of purulent infection spread throughout the body, inflammation of the kidneys and lungs starts, the heart is affected. There is a serious threat to human life.
At first, a cold compress imposes in phlegmon. If there was pus, it is necessary to refuse from a cold compress and seek emergency medical attention.