Gangrene in the United States Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gangrene in the United States - Research Paper Example Serious injuries, diabetes, and long-term smoking can cause this disease. Physicians believe that blood vessel diseases like arteriosclerosis increase an individual’s risk for gangrene. In addition, surgeries and suppressed immune system resulting from issues like HIV or chemotherapy may lead to the development of gangrene in individuals. Clostridium perifringens is a gangrene causing bacteria. Finally, trauma is also a potential cause of this disease. The symptoms of gangrene may vary in accordance with the location and cause of the disease. If the affected area is close to the skin, the symptoms may be foul-smelling discharge and loss of feeling sensation in that particular area. In addition, discoloration is another major symptom of gangrene. The affected region will be turned black or blue if the skin is affected whereas it will become red or bronze in color if the affected location is beneath the skin. Symptoms like fever, low BP, severe pain, confusion, and generally ill feeling may appear if the gangrene affected location is inside the body. In severe cases, amputation of the affected body part is the only treatment for gangrene. Sometimes, emergency operations are performed to increase blood supply to the affected area and to locate and remove dead tissues. In some other cases, antibiotics can treat the disease. Gangrene is more common in an old population as they are prone to health problems like diabetes and blood vessel diseases. A Medical News Today report indicates that in the US, the gangrene victims’ average age was 72 years in 2003; and in addition, 56 percent of an affected individual were men in the same year. This disease is found all over the world despite socio-economic differences. The geographic distribution of gangrene causing bacteria (Clostridium perifringens) is worldwide.