Oct 2011
Three months after starting treatment this young lad is almost healed.
Initially his leg was rapidly breaking down, swollen and with audible small
gas pockets when pressed following the administration of an
gas pockets when pressed following the administration of an
injection from a local 'chemist' using a dirty needle.
The necrotic dead tissues were replete with maggots, debrided and cleaned.
He was on three intravenous antibiotics for two weeks.
Eventually clean and rid of the dead tissue healing seemed to miraculously start
and nutritional support was crucial.
The process has been long and for some time the mother seemed to
emotionally disengage with the child so encouragement to breast feed was
ongoing even when the child was discharged.
The amount of lost tissue should have necessitated skin grafting, but
this is beyond anything available in the riverine areas
Frankly it has been amazing to all of us how this young boy has recovered so well,
and it is a joy to see the family encouraged by his recovery.
Gas gangrene has a high fatality and often the extent of the disease results in
amputation.
Though scarred, young Godswill is getting back on his feet and doing well.
