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The woman developed a cyst which actually was a flesh eating bacteria infection
A 39-year-old English woman was close to dying after flesh eating bacteria nearly ate her vagina. The woman, mother of three, suffered from type 2 diabetes, which occasionally causes her to develop cysts. Such a formation evolved into bacteria, which quickly attacked her genital organs.
The flesh eating bacteria destroyed the tissue in her genital area
Tammy Peel, who was living in Essex, ended up in the emergency room in January as she wasn’t feeling very well. There, the doctors discovered she had undergone sepsis after developing necrotizing fasciitis. This infection is extremely rare, and affects the tissue right under the skin.
They quickly discovered this was caused by a flesh eating bacteria which was advancing quickly. Therefore, they rushed the woman into surgery and, after four hours, they removed the necrotized tissue from her labia, thigh, and stomach. This had to be done so that they could stop the bacteria from spreading.
The infection got more severe as she was suffering from diabetes
After giving birth to her third child, Peel developed post-partum depression, when she started eating way too many unhealthy foods. This caused her to become overweight and, soon afterwards, she developed type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, she lost all the extra weight and sorted her life out, but she was left with the disease.
Many years later, she noticed a cyst in her genital area, but didn’t take it too seriously. It’s not uncommon for diabetics to develop such formations on their bodies, so she thought it was normal. She took some antibiotics against it, but it started leaking instead of healing. When she returned to the hospital, the doctors discovered the abscess was actually a flesh eating bacteria.
Such infections can develop in all kinds of small wounds, and can get serious if left untreated. However, they are more dangerous for diabetics, who have a weaker immune system than other people. Peel wanted to share her story so that anyone should be aware of the danger and go see a doctor as soon as they notice something unusual.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Jason Leathers
Jason is a graduate of Biology and Chemistry, who wishes he had more time to spend travelling, immersing himself in new cultures and enjoying the outdoors. He is keen on digging for the latest news pertaining to pharmacology, medical stories and science related topics. From delving into these sources to creating compelling stories that are attractive for his readers, Jason enjoys every moment of it.
