Gangrene is a medical condition that occurs if the flow of blood to a certain region of your body is interrupted, leading to the destruction and death of the affected tissue. Gangrene can be caused by injury, disease or infection and can be life-threatening. Though gangrene can occur in both external and internal regions of the body, the toes, fingers and limbs are the most commonly affected areas. Treatment of gangrene typically involves antibiotic treatment or surgery to remove the affected tissue.
Skin Discoloration
Decreased blood flow to body tissue due to gangrene prevents cells from receiving an adequate supply of oxygen. When this occurs, the color of the skin can change. The tissue affected by gangrene can appear white, red, purple, blue, grey or---once the tissue has died---black. Affected skin can also appear dry, shriveled or shiny and may become flaky or irritated.
Pain
The onset of gangrene can cause pain to develop around the affected tissue. As this condition progresses, the nerves and blood vessels within the gangrenous tissue become damaged and die. If this occurs, the affected tissue will feel numb and can be difficult to move normally.
Swelling
If you develop gangrene within your muscles or as the result of a bacterial infection, the affected tissue can become severely swollen and inflamed. Fluid or gas-filled blisters can form within the gangrenous tissue, which can contribute to symptoms of pain and skin discoloration. If you develop gas-filled blisters beneath the skin, you may notice a cracking or popping noise if you press on the affected skin area. This abnormal noise is caused by the gas that is trapped beneath the skin.
Foul-smelling Discharge
Fluid-filled blisters that develop on the affected skin can burst and begin to leak a foul-smelling discharge. The consistency of the discharge is typically watery, frothy and clear, Dr. Carson-DeWitt explains on the New York University Langone Medical Center website. If the blisters burst, you may be more susceptible to developing further infection at the site of these sores.
Flu-like Symptoms
Depending on the cause and location of the gangrene, you can also develop flu-like symptoms as a result of this condition. Such symptoms include fever, lightheadedness, malaise, chills, nausea or vomiting. These symptoms can also develop if the infection within the gangrenous tissue spreads to other regions of the body---a condition called septic shock. Septic shock requires immediate emergency medical care.
