Phlegmon
Causes and symptoms of phlegmon
What is phlegmon?
Phlegmon is a purulent inflammation of adipose tissue, which is characterized by an acute course. The pathological process in a short period of time covers the tissues surrounding the area of inflammation, and spreads both to the cell spaces and to the tendons and muscles.
Causes of phlegmon
The place of localization of phlegmon can be subcutaneous, submucosal, as well as axillary tissue, thigh area, buttocks, lower back, perineum, anterior peritoneal wall. The disease can occur when staphylococcal, streptococcal infections, pus-like microorganisms enter the human body. The routes of entry of pathogens can be different: through damaged mucous membranes, skin or blood.
Phlegmon can also develop at the site of irritating liquids getting under the skin: turpentine, kerosene, gasoline, etc.
If phlegmon arose as a result of secondary infection, then some diseases of the skin can be attributed to the reasons for the appearance of phlegmon: boil, carbuncle, osteomyelitis.
Symptoms and diagnosis of phlegmon
Among the main symptoms of the disease are painful swelling, the rapid spread of the inflammatory process, reddening of a large area of the skin. Body temperature can rise above 40 ° C Celsius. The patient is in severe pain; the part of the body on which phlegmon is formed may cease to perform its functions, the disease is accompanied by severe thirst and general weakness.
Over time, the swelling of the inflamed area of the skin grows, the skin turns red and shiny. On palpation, you can determine the clear boundaries of the seal, which is motionless and very hot. Feeling the affected area is painful for the patient.
At the beginning of the development of phlegmon in the area of inflammation, tissue infiltration is observed, after a couple of days a discharge of a serous-purulent nature appears, if streptococci are the causative agent of the pathological process, purulent with staphylococcal infection, ichorous with putrefactive infection.
The appearance of all of the above symptoms in a patient requires urgent hospitalization to clarify the diagnosis.
Timely diagnosis of abscesses and phlegmon is important for determining the nature of the pathological process.
Phlegmon can be non-odontogenic, that is, it may arise due to the development of an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes. This also includes the appearance of phlegmon due to decay of hematoma, phlegmon of some parts of the body: face, feet, etc.
Odontogenic phlegmon can appear in the area of a diseased tooth: maxillofacial, submandibular phlegmon.
Phlegmons are isolated, which are based on non-specific and specific inflammation or erysipelas of tissues.
In advanced cases, phlegmon can cause a number of complications: lymphadenitis, lymphangitis, erysipelas, thrombophlebitis, septic inflammation, etc. When the pathological process spreads to neighboring tissues, purulent arthritis, tendovaginitis and other inflammatory processes of internal organs can begin.
Facial phlegmon threatens the development of thrombophlebitis of the facial veins and meningitis. Phlegmon of the foot in advanced cases can lead to disruption of the functioning of blood vessels, which can serve as a reason for limb amputation.
Phlegmon of the face and neck can lead to the involvement of the most important venous and arterial vessels in the pathological process, which in turn leads to an abscess of the brain and a violation of oxygen supply to the lungs and to death. Another dangerous complication of phlegmon of the face and neck is the development of Ludwig's rapid angina.
Phlegmon treatment
Phlegmon is treated in a hospital, where an accurate diagnosis is made and an effective treatment is selected depending on the type of phlegmon and the severity of the pathological process. Phlegmon treatment is carried out comprehensively.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
