After Matt Puma, the girl’s father, was diagnosed with strep throat in early March, the girl and the rest of the family were tested for the infection. Six-year-old Tessa Puma tested positive for strep throat though she had not displayed any symptoms. She was treated with a 10-day regimen of antibiotics.
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Then, on March 25, she began exhibiting flu-like symptoms. On March 29, she was was diagnosed with influenza A after being taken to the emergency room at Twinsburg Cleveland Clinic, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Two days later, the girl experienced severe pain and swelling in her left leg. Her parents then took her to Akron Children’s Hospital. After an MRI, the six-year-old girl was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, commonly referred to as flesh-eating bacteria.
Necrotizing fasciitis can occur when Streptococcus bacteria, which typically affects the throat and tonsils, migrates into the bloodstream. Physicians believe this is how the girl developed Necrotizing fasciitis. Her leg was amputated from the knee down to protect her from the condition.
In March, reports surfaced of a Michigan man requiring partial amputations of his left hand and both feet due to complications related to strep throat.
More articles on infection control:
Senator asks Olympus for more information on outbreak linked to redesigned scopes
Childhood antibiotic use linked to adult inflammatory gut diseases in new study
Study: MRSA pneumonia cases among hospitalized US patients on the decline
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