Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis

The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis develop quickly over hours or days. They may not be obvious at first and can be similar to less serious conditions such as Bird flu , gastroenteritis or cellulitis .

Early symptoms can include:

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

After a few hours to days, you may develop:

  • swelling and rednessin the painful area the swelling will usually feel firmto 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 .

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018