UK doctors have sounded the alarm over an increase in a "flesh-eating" infection with a high fatality rate. The health professionals, who documented incidents in a recent study, cautioned about Necrotising fasciitis, commonly called the "flesh-eating disease." This rare, dangerous condition occurs when wounds become infected. Immediate hospital treatment is necessary.

Medics from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust wrote in BMJ Case Reports: "Necrotising fasciitis is an uncommon and rapidly progressive surgical emergency." The team wants other gynaecologists to keep a close eye following a rise in cases at their hospital. This aggressive infection, necrotising fasciitis, can occur post-wound inoculation following surgery or from minor abrasions or insect bites. Those with diabetes or compromised immune systems may find themselves at heightened susceptibility.

Symptoms evolve quickly, sometimes over hours or days. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, the onset of the disease can result in sepsis.

Affected individuals often encounter disproportionate pain or numbness adjacent to an injury, far exceeding normal expectations for such wounds. Additionally, one might observe swelling near the injury site or experience systemic symptoms that resemble the flu, which include fever, headaches, and lethargy.

Later symptoms of necrotising fasciitis may include vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion, along with black, purple, or grey blotches and blisters on the skin, which might be less noticeable on those with black or brown skin. These symptoms can be mistaken for other skin infections like cellulitis.

Interventions typically involve a combination of antibiotics or surgical procedures to remove the diseased tissue.

Despite successful treatment, survivors might face lifelong alterations in appearance and functionality of the affected body parts, sometimes necessitating amputation.

Indiana University's microbiology and immunology professor Bill Sullivan told Live Science the perilous nature of this condition: "Necrotising fasciitis can occur anywhere skin or tissue is breached, including genitalia. It's an extremely aggressive infection that can advance to a life-threatening situation in 24-48 hours. After these bacteria get into the skin, they release potent toxins that lead to rapid tissue destruction, liquefying muscle, nerves, and blood vessels."

Medical experts have documented the cases of three women who suffered from a severe and frightening infection in their genital area. According to the report: "Two of our patients presented to emergency with vulval necrotising fasciitis, while the third developed it as a complication of postoperative wound infection. All patients underwent extensive surgical debridement and required a multidisciplinary approach from gynaecologists, surgeons, the intensive care team and the tissue viability team."

Speaking about the condition, Dr Sullivan commented: "Vaginal necrotising fasciitis could be considered more dangerous in the sense that it might be more difficult to diagnose in time."