Global Warming and Climate Change May Be Contributing to Increases In Flesh Eating Diseases

Diabetes Drug Infection Lawsuit News

Scientists are sounding the alarm that global warming may have more serious consequences than merely losing a bit of beachfront property

Monday, March 11, 2019 - Researchers have written extensively on the catastrophic effect climate change could have on the environment in terms of more extreme weather conditions and a globally-rising sea levels. Now scientists are turning their focus to the effects global warming may have on the spread of infectious diseases including necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating disease. Researchers in Australia have contributed some interesting ideas as to why more people may be developing necrotizing fasciitis. Sciencealert.com spoke with the University of Melbourne, AU infectious disease specialist Daniel O'Brien who theorizes that the bacteria that causes the flesh to rot also has a numbing effect and shuts out signals to the immune system. "(necrotizing fasciitis) produces an anesthetic agent so a lot of the time, especially early on, patients don't feel it. It actually paralyzes the immune system." O'Brien cites a study conducted back in 2008 that identified the cause of nerve damage in mice and how the mice were unable to detect feeling pain. Failing to detect the flesh-eating disease early on due to the lack of pain can cause the wound to become very large and require extensive debridement, skin grafts, and plastic surgery. O'Brien also cites researcher's claims that global warming is having an incubator effect that can proliferate the spread of the flesh-eating bacteria. Researchers are finding that being bitten by an insect (vector) can transfer the flesh-eating bacteria and a warmer, more humid climate can cause the insect population to explode in numbers. Also, bacteria can be "water-borne" meaning that microscopic insect eggs and larvae live in the water and the more water, the more larvae. Necrotizing Fasciitis lawyers representing families nationwide, offer a no obligation free consultation.

In addition to a climate change, necrotizing fasciitis in the form of Fournier's gangrene can be caused by certain diabetes drugs and may result in amputation of the genitals as the only way to stop the disease from spreading to the thighs, stomach, and chest. Certain diabetic drugs called SGLT2 blockers re-route sugar out of the body through the kidneys via the urine also weaken the immune system, creating an environment where the disease can gain a foothold. According to WebMD certain conditions such as urinary tract infections, bladder infections, hysterectomies, abscesses, insect bites, burns, and circumcision of the flesh surrounding the penis can cause Fournier's gangrene to develop.

Twelve patients were infected with Fournier's gangrene from 2015 to 2018, setting off an alarm to the FDA. The FDA discovered that all 12 patients were being treated for diabetes with an SGLT2 drug. The drugs that may be the cause of necrotizing fasciitis in the form of Fournier's gangrene are Canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Qtern), Empagliflozin (Jardiance, Glyxambi, Synjardy, Synjardy XR), and Ertugliflozin (Steglatro, Segluromet, Steglujan). Patients taking the drugs mentioned above currently have nothing to worry about unless they experience the early warning signals of Fournier's gangrene that focus on a break in the skin on the scrotum or perineum producing an ache out of proportion to the size of the wound.

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Lawyers for Fournier's Gangrene

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm has won more than $300 million in four talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis. Law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.