1. Look for Skin Symptoms
If you develop gangrene, skin in the affected area will take on a characteristic dark blue or black color. It will also be very painful to the touch, initially, but it will grow numb after the tissue dies. You should also expect the size of the black-and-blue area to increase as the gangrene moves on to affect adjacent tissues.
As skin-based gangrene worsens, you will also find that the dead tissue emits a pungent, distinctive foul odor. This results from the decay of dead skin tissues and signals a medical emergency, since complications of the condition become more severe as the gangrene spreads.
2. Identify Secondary Symptoms
Not all types of gangrene affect the skin, and internal cases have a different set of signs and symptoms. First, you'll notice that the part of your body where the gangrene is located is extremely swollen and painful. You're also likely to develop a fever and a feeling of fatigue and malaise. Your skin will first appear normal, then pale; as the infection spreads, it will take on a blue or black hue.
3. Be Wary of Septic Shock
Bacterial infections are both a cause and a symptom of gangrene. You should learn to identify signs of septic shock which occurs when the bacterial infection of gangrene spreads throughout your entire body.
Septic shock can be life threatening. You must get emergency medical attention if you have other signs and symptoms of gangrene, accompanied by a drop in blood pressure, an elevated heartbeat and feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness. You might also have acute difficulty breathing and become delirious or confused. To avoid the additional complications posed by septic shock, you must promptly report a possible case of gangrene to your doctor and undergo immediate treatment.
