There may indeed be a link between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs such as Aleve and ibuprofen) and the deadly bacterial
"flesh-eating" disease, necrotizing fasciitis:
"Some studies have found a higher incidence of necrotising fasciitis
among chickenpox patients treated with ibuprofen. The drugs are sold
under brand-names including Motrin?, Nuprin?, Advil? and others. It is
in the group known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories all of which
have been linked to the disease. Independently, three New Zealand
doctors have published a study in the latest New Zealand Medical
Journal on necrotising fasciitis.
Of the 13 people treated for the disease at the hospital's intensive
care unit in 1998 and 1999, 5 had been taking the drug Voltaren or
other drugs in the same group. 2 of the 5- and one of the patients not
taking those drugs - died.
A study of seven cases of the disease had found that five patients had
been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The
mechanism by which NSAIDs increase the risk of necrotising fasciitis
may be by impairment of the immune response, or by masking of the
symptoms of secondary infection, leading to delayed diagnosis and
treatment."
Dr. Joseph Mercola: Flesh-Eating Disease Related to Ibuprofen
http://www.mercola.com/2001/feb/21/flesheating_disease.htm
"Children with chickenpox who are fed over-the-counter painkillers run
the risk of being infected by a deadly flesh-eating bacterium. Doctors
say the only way to treat the aggressive bacterium - which dissolves
human flesh - is by amputating infected limbs and treating patients
with antibiotics.
'This flesh-eating bug causes rapid tissue destruction, and entire
limbs can be lost within a matter of hours,' he [Dr Stephen Toovey]
said... His warning was triggered by the results of a recent study of
children who were hospitalised within three weeks of an attack of
chickenpox in the US.
Dr Danielle Zerr, of the Children's Hospital in Seattle, headed a team
of scientists who compared 19 children stricken with the bacterium
with 29 control children. Those infected were 10 times more likely to
have been given ibuprofen as a painkiller."
Sunday Times: Children attacked by flesh-eating bacteria after taking medicine
http://www.suntimes.co.za/1999/05/02/news/news07.htm
"For some time published case reports and case series have described
cases of necrotising fasciitis (NF) in patients who have recently used
an NSAID, and an association has been postulated. Recently a
case-control study gave further support to this postulate. The study
involved 19 children with NF and varicella infection and 29 control
children with serious skin and soft-tissue infection and also with
varicella. The odds ratio for use of ibuprofen among those with NF
was 5.0 (95% CI 1.03-26.6).
The mechanism by which NSAIDs increase the risk of NF may be by
impairment of the immune response, or by masking of the symptoms of
secondary infection, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Although the evidence for this association is weak due to the small
number of case patients, it would be prudent to use ibuprofen with
caution in children with varicella infection, particularly if there is
a possibility of secondary infection."
Information for Health Professionals: Necrotising Fasciitis Associated
with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/PUarticles/necf.htm
The possible connection between NSAIDs and necrotizing fasciitis has
caused some physicians to stop using drugs of this type when treating
children who have viral infections, particularly varicella
(chickenpox):
"Aspirin, naproxen (such as Aleve), and other non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are good for reducing
inflammation caused by injury or arthritis. Ibuprofen is often good
for menstrual pain and will also help reduce inflammation. However,
they SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN EXCEPT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. These medications have been linked to Reye?s
syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis ('flesh-eating bacteria'), and other
problems when taken by children with viral infections."
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton: Pain medications
http://www.rwjhamilton.org/Atoz/encyclopedia/article/002123.asp
Google Web Search: "flesh eating" + "ibuprofen"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22flesh+eating%22+ibuprofen
Google Web Search: "necrotizing fasciitis" + "nsaids"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22necrotizing+fasciitis%22+%22nsaids
I hope this information is helpful. If anything is unclear, or if a
link doesn't work for you, please request clarification; I'll be glad
to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
