In a surprising incident, an 11-year-old boy in US died days after he twisted his ankle running on a treadmill. As per doctors the fifth-grade student probably contracted a rare bacterial infection through a scratch that became necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial disease that attacks tissues, commonly known as a “flesh-eating disease.”

Jesse Brown twisted his ankle while running on the treadmill. Few days after the incident, his leg was covered with large, bruise-like purple and red spots. After examination, he was diagnosed with Group A strep, which later became necrotizing fasciitis, his family said.

What is Group A strep?

Group A strep is a bacteria that can cause several infections, including strep throat, Scarlet fever, and necrotizing fasciitis.

“This is an invasive disease which means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs. When this happens, disease is usually very severe,” according to the CDC’s website.

What’s necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is “a rare fatal bacterial infection that spreads very fast in the body.” There are many types of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis.

How can you contract necrotizing fasciitis?
The bacteria enters the body through a break in the skin due to any injury, cuts, burns, insect bites, puncture wounds, surgical wounds.Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis?
Infected area skin become red, warm, or swollen
Severe pain
Fever

Additional symptoms include:
Ulcers, blisters, or black spots on the skin
Changes in the color of the skin
Pus
Dizziness
Fatigue (tiredness)
Diarrhea or nausea

How to treat necrotizing fasciitis?
There are no vaccines to prevent you from this rare disease. You can only prevent yourself from contracting this infection:

Wash hands with warm soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub or sanitizer
Clean wounds with soap and water
Bandage wounds
Visit doctor for deep or serious injuries