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Necrotising fasciitis: experience with 32 children
1Department of Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. legboj@yahoo.co.uk
Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|September 15, 2005
Summary
Necrotising fasciitis (NF) in children, though rare, requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention in pediatric NF cases significantly reduces mortality, highlighting the importance of aggressive management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Pathology
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Necrotising fasciitis (NF) in children is a rare, rapidly progressive, and potentially fatal condition.
- Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical debridement, coupled with appropriate antibiotic therapy, are crucial for a favorable outcome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the diverse clinical presentations of necrotising fasciitis in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the treatment outcomes for children diagnosed with NF.
Main Methods:
- A 4-year prospective, descriptive study was conducted.
- Consecutive pediatric cases (aged 15 and under) of NF treated at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, were analyzed from January 2001 to December 2004.
Main Results:
- Thirty-two children were treated; common predisposing factors included malnutrition (40.6%) and boils (37.5%).
- Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism (71.9%). Common complications included septicaemia (71.9%), with a 9.4% mortality rate.
- Treatment involved resuscitation, surgical debridement, antibiotics, and wound care, with various reconstructive methods employed.
Conclusions:
- Necrotising fasciitis is not uncommon in Nigerian children and is associated with substantial morbidity.
- Aggressive treatment and early diagnosis are key to significantly reducing mortality rates in pediatric NF.