Necrotizing Fasciitis or 'Flesh-Eating' disease - a prophecy come true?

Necrotizing fasciitis or 'flesh-eating' disease is slowly spreading in Pangasinan, Philippines.

A famous Philippine-TV network featured a 21-year old lady from Pangasinan in one of it's late news broadcast program.  The victim's skin is irritated and the flesh is slowly been eaten by a bacteria that even her face could no longer be recognized because of the wounds that spread her whole face and body. According to the victim's mother, it all started as rashes. The infection got worst and they decided to check it with a dermatologist who told her that her daughter is infected with Hansen's disease or commonly known as 'ketong'. Ants and worms visibly came in and out from the wounds.

Several other medical practitioners specializing in skin diseases cannot fully diagnosed the young lady's skin problem.

The netizens were alarmed about the news and some of them linked the epidemic to the prophecy of an Indian prophet Sadhu Sundar Servaraj that might have come true. The prophecy was spoken last April, 2013 during the 24th National Prayer Gathering in Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City, Philippines.





What really is Necrotizing Fasciitis?

This is commonly-known as flesh-eating disease or flesh-eating bacteria syndrome. This is a very rare infection that affects the deeper layer of the skin. People with diabetes or cancer are more likely be infected with this disease due to their weak immune systems.

Possible causes of such infections are due to organisms that reside on a person's skin. Other sources of the bacteria that caused the infection includes the following:

• eating undercooked contaminated meats
• eating or consuming raw farm products fertilized by human sewage sludge
• people working at municipal waste water treatment plants
• sharing and using dirty needles

This bacteria also infects people with normal general health conditions besides those who are diabetics, heavy alcohol users, smokers, drug users, people with malignancies and chronic systemic diseases. 

People who are infected with the disease felt skin rashes or disorders that becomes progressively swollen, skin is discolored and blisters are readily seen.

Immediate medical treatment and attention should be given when the condition is being suspected.

Whether the prophecy comes true or a new epidemic is happening and about to spread, we need to be always prayerful and live a healthy lifestyle. The Benjamin Franklin axiom that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is as true today as it was when Franklin made the quote.