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Whitmore's disease can affect people of all ages, including men and women, but it may pose a greater risk to people whose occupations are in direct and frequent contact with mud, water and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease or a weakened immune system....
1. What is Whitmore's disease?
Whitmore's disease, also known as Melioidosis, is caused by a bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. Whitmore's disease is a serious, life-threatening infection.
Burkholderia pseudomallei causing Whitmore's disease is rod-shaped, aerobic and well motile. This bacterium commonly lives in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, most notably Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
According to folklore, Whitmore's disease is often called a flesh-eating bacterial disease because the disease is quite contagious. The bacteria that cause Whitmore's disease usually live on the surface of water or in the mud, they enter and spread to people through scratches on the skin. This bacteria is also spread through the respiratory tract if you breathe in dust particles or water droplets in the air containing the bacteria.
According to statistics, when there is an outbreak of whitmore disease, the number of people infected with this flesh-eating bacteria often has a very high mortality rate, about 40-60% if not detected and treated in time. There have been many deaths within 1 week of the onset of the disease.
The cause of death is because this bacteria has the ability to cause tissue in the body, in the skin to necrosis, thereby leading to ulcers or abscesses. In case of bacteria entering the lungs, it causes pneumonia, when entering the blood, it causes blood infection,...
Bệnh Whitmore là loại bệnh nhiễm trùng nặng, ảnh hưởng đến tính mạng người bệnh
However, the signs and symptoms of Whitmore's disease are often very similar to those of other diseases, so the diagnosis is often slow and the progression of the disease is unpredictable. But if there are the following signs, the patient needs to go to the doctor to do the necessary tests to differentiate Whitmore's disease from other diseases. Signs include:
High fever is a typical sign when a sick person is infected with flesh-eating bacteria. However, symptoms of high fever are common in other diseases, so in addition to symptoms of high fever, stomach pain, chest tightness, parotitis accompanied by muscle pain, headache and convulsions. When the bacteria that cause Whitmore's disease move into the lungs, it can cause severe bronchitis or pneumonia. Typical symptoms are fever, chest tightness, headache, shortness of breath, unwillingness to eat, cough, and muscle aches. Local infection: When infected with the bacteria that cause Whitmore's disease, the person may experience pain or swelling in some areas. Skin infections: This is the most characteristic sign, because this bacteria often causes ulcers on areas of the skin. An ulcer can cause pain or swelling, which can lead to infection or an abscess, along with fever and muscle aches. In addition to the above signs, when flesh-eating bacteria enter the bloodstream, it will cause blood infections with symptoms of headache, high fever, chills, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. Other signs such as digestive disorders (diarrhea), abdominal pain or joint pain and sores appear pus on the skin ...
2. Who can get Whitmore's disease?
According to reports, the prevalence of children with Whitmore disease accounts for 5-15% of all Whitmore cases. Particularly in Vietnam, about 70% of cases of Whitmore's disease are hospitalized between September and November, this is the time of the year with a lot of rain and humid climate, which creates favorable conditions for the outbreak of whitmore disease.
Most of the cases associated with this flesh-eating bacteria are farmers aged 50 - 70 years, with underlying diabetes or chronic diseases such as pneumonia and kidney disease. These cases often present with blood infection and pneumonia on admission.
Therefore, according to the specialist in Whitmore disease. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is a soil-dwelling bacterium, so the main route of infection for Whitmore's disease is contact of scratches on the human body with contaminated soil or water.
In addition, this bacteria can be transmitted through the respiratory tract by inhaling dust particles, tiny water containing disease-causing bacteria. Some people can become infected by eating foods containing the bacteria that cause Whitmore's disease. However, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of Whitmore's disease or from animals to humans through the air.
Therefore, Whitmore's disease can occur at all ages, including men and women, however it may be more dangerous for people whose occupations are in direct and frequent contact with mud and dirt. , water and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease or a weakened immune system....
Hầu hết, các ca bệnh liên quan đến vi khuẩn ăn thịt người này là nông dân tuổi từ 50 - 70
3. How is Whitmore's disease treated and prevented?
3.1 Treatment of Whitmore's disease
The treatment for Whitmore's disease is still mainly antibiotics but will depend on the location and extent of the disease. Specifically as follows:
For mild forms of Whitmore's disease: It is recommended to use antibiotics such as: ceftriaxone, imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, penicillin, doxycycline, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and aztreonam. For more severe forms of Whitmore's disease: It is necessary to combine treatment with two of the above antibiotics, with a treatment duration of up to 12 months. In the event that the patient presents with pulmonary melioidosis and the culture of the causative agent of Whitmore's disease is still positive after 6 months, consideration should be given to lobectomy to remove the lung abscess. Treatment methods will be more effective if the disease is diagnosed and detected as soon as possible, in order to avoid other dangerous complications.
3.2 Prevention of Whitmore's Disease
The best way to avoid complications of Whitmore's disease is to prevent the disease. However, in order to actively prevent Whitmore's disease, people should strictly implement the following measures:
Minimize contact with mud or dirty water, especially in heavily polluted places. People who often have to work outdoors, exposed to mud and dirty water, especially those at high risk, should use shoes, sandals and gloves. When you notice open wounds, sores or burns, avoid contact with contaminated mud or water. In case of contact, the person should use a waterproof bandage, then clean and disinfect the open wound. People with diabetes, weakened immune system, kidney disease, etc. need to be cared for and protected from damage to prevent infection.
Việc điều trị bệnh Whitmore chủ yếu vẫn là dùng thuốc kháng sinh
Whitmore's disease does not have a vaccine to prevent the disease, so when suspected of having symptoms of infection, the patient needs to go to a medical facility for examination and necessary tests to determine whether a bacterial infection is present. from which appropriate treatment methods, limiting dangerous complications. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.
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