Gangrene

Gangrene is the death of body tissue caused by a lack of blood supply or a serious bacterial infection, most commonly affecting the extremities such as the toes, fingers and limbs. It is broadly classified as dry gangrene, resulting from a gradual loss of blood flow, wet gangrene, which involves bacterial infection and tissue swelling, and gas gangrene, a rapidly spreading and life-threatening infection typically caused by Clostridium bacteria that produce gas within tissue. Affected tissue may change color, become numb, and give off a foul odor as it decays. Treatment depends on the type and cause but often involves antibiotics, restoring blood flow, and surgical removal of dead tissue, with amputation sometimes required to prevent the spread of infection.