The course of life for Sylvia Halcrow, a 53-year-old Briton, has been turned upside down by…her bra. According to his testimony reported by the English newspaper Mirrorthe events would have started in May 2022, when under her right breast appeared a slight scratchassociated with friction of the underwire of her bra. If this injury seemed minor, it quickly took a nightmarish turn. Over the days, the lesion metamorphosed into a “painful abscess”, Sylvia told the English newspaper.
The diagnosis revealed a disease as rare as deadly
Despite initial treatment withantibiotics prescribed by his doctor, the pain only persisted, even intensified. Faced with deterioration, Sylvia rushed to the hospital, where a nurse, struck by the pallor of her face, immediately admitted her. During his hospitalization, several doctors have tried different treatments without success. The verdict finally fell: Sylvia suffered from a rare and dangerous bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis, also known as “flesh-eating disease”, due to its ability to affect tissues under the skin, muscles and organs. This disease is potentially fatal.
“I had two operations to remove the flesh-eating bacteria”
To treat this bacterial infection Sylvia was diving in a artificial coma to remove infected tissue. She testifies:They put me in an artificial coma and I underwent two operations to remove the flesh-eating bacteria. Looking back, I’m glad I was unconscious, because it would have been very traumatic.” This coma lasted 8 days, but the 50-year-old had to stay in hospital for another 3 weeks before being released safely.
Today, Sylvia does not wear no sequelae of this disease, apart from scar a few centimeters below the right breast. Naturally, she no longer wears underwired bras: “I totally gave up on underwired bras, I’m convinced that’s what caused this disease.” She adds : “Some outfits don’t fit me so well anymore, but the main thing is that I’m alive and here to share my story.”.
What is necrotizing fasciitis or “flesh eating disease”?
It is a rare and serious infection that affects the soft tissue, specifically the fascia, which are the layers of connective tissue that surround muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. This infection is characterized by the rapid spread of bacteria and by the necrosisi.e. tissue death, causing rapid deterioration of the infected area.
Necrotizing fasciitis can develop following a skin injury, such as a cut, scratch or insect bite. THE bacteria enter the body through the wound and multiply rapidly, releasing toxins that damage surrounding tissue.
THE symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include a pain intense, rapid swelling, redness of the skin and fever high. Due to how quickly the infection spreads, necrotizing fasciitis is considered a medical emergency. Treatment usually involves surgery to remove infected tissue and administration of intravenous antibiotics to fight infection.
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