Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcomes of Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Prospective Comparative Study of Children and Adults in Sokoto.

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe soft tissue infection typified by swiftly spreading necrosis of the fascia and subcutaneous fat with successive necrosis of the skin which affects all age groups.

Objective: To compare the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of NF between children and adults.

Materials and methods: A prospective descriptive study of all patients presenting with NF to the (Usmanu Danfodiyo Univrersity Teaching Hospital, Sokoto), from September 2018 to August 2019. Participants were stratified into adults and children for comparison during data analysis.

Results: A total of 32 patients were analyzed, 24 (75.0%) were adults. The age range was 2 weeks to 75 years with a median age of 35 years. Necrotic skin patches and skin erythema were the most common cutaneous findings. The lower limb was the most commonly affected region in adults (58.3%), whereas the head and neck and abdominal wall were equally commonly involved in children (37.5%). Children had more multiple isolates than adults, 87.5% compared to 62.5%, respectively, and it was significant (P value 0.04). Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species were both significantly commoner in isolates of children than adults (P value 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). The method of wound coverage was significantly different (P value 0.003) as fewer children required skin grafting. The mortality rate was 6.25%, the two deaths occurred in adults.

Conclusion: NF is commoner in adults in our region. The predilection sites of the disease in the two groups differ and healing by secondary intention was more possible in children.