In modern life, we get so busy that we don’t have time to care for our health. These days people are more careless towards wounds or infections until and unless they become a serious problem.
Some untreated wounds could cause infection and could lead to necrosis and Gangrene.
Key Takeaways
- Necrosis is the death of cells or tissues due to disease or injury, while gangrene is the death of tissues caused by a lack of blood supply.
- Necrosis can occur in any body part, while gangrene affects the extremities, such as the toes or fingers.
- Necrosis can be caused by various factors, including infections, toxins, and injuries, while a blockage of blood flow causes gangrene due to conditions like diabetes or peripheral artery disease.
Necrosis vs Gangrene
Neosporin contains neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin and is recommended for treating minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Polysporin is used for preventing and treating minor skin infections. Neosporin contains neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin and is recommended for treating minor wounds.
Necrosis is a form of cell damage in which cells die prematurely. Gangrene is a potentially fatal disorder that occurs when a large amount of live, healthy tissue dies.
The loss of cell membrane integrity, cell expansion, and shrinking of the cell core known as the nucleus. Necrotizing fasciitis is treated surgically by removing dead tissue and administering antibiotics through veins.
One of the clinical signs of necrosis is gangrene. Necrosis affects the cells, whereas gangrene affects the tissues.
Gangrene is caused by a decrease in blood flow or infection. Cholesterol plaques, which are caused by a lack of blood flow, restrict the arterial lumen, resulting in a considerable reduction in blood supply.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Necrosis | Gangrene |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Injury of cells mainly due to death of cells. | It’s a severe level of necrosis. |
| Causes | Necrosis occurs as a result of cell damage caused by external or internal sources. | Gangrene is due to reduction of the blood flow or an infection |
| Types | There are five types of Necrosis. | Gangrene be divided into four categories. |
| Pathogenesis | The loss of cell membrane integrity, enlargement of the cell, and shrinkage of the cell center termed the nucleus. | Caused by a lack of blood supply, Cholesterol plaques constrict the artery lumen, causing a significant reduction in blood supply. |
| Recovery | Necrotizing fasciitis is treated with surgical excision of dead tissue and antibiotics administered through veins. | Antibiotics are frequently used to treat gangrene that is caused by an infection. |
What is Necrosis?
Necrosis is a type of cell injury that causes cells to die prematurely. Gangrene is a potentially deadly condition that happens when a huge volume of healthy, living tissue dies.
The loss of cell membrane integrity, cell growth, and shrinkage of the nucleus (the cell’s centre). Necrotizing fasciitis is surgically treated by removing dead tissue and delivering antibiotics via veins.
The five major forms of necrosis are recognized.
- Coagulative necrosis: Low oxygen supply causes this Necrosis.
- Liquefactive necrosis: A fluid is seen in this type of Necrosis due to the digestion of cells.
- Caseous necrosis: TB bacteria is the main cause of this Necrosis
- Fat necrosis: The action of enzymes killing the fatty tissues causes this Necrosis.
- Fibrinoid necrosis: Injury produced by immune complex deposition causes this Necrosis.
Necrotizing fasciitis is treated with surgical excision of dead tissue and antibiotics administered through veins. This could be helpful for the treatment and recovery of the infection.
What is Gangrene?
Cholesterol plaques that produce a narrowing of the artery lumen cause a significant decrease in blood supply in ischemic gangrene.
Atheromatous plaques can generate thrombi or emboli, which reduce blood flow and cause tissue death. Infective gangrene begins with clostridium bacteria contamination of a site following trauma or surgery.
This results in the release of bacterial enzymes, which causes tissue necrosis.
This necrosis, which spreads throughout the underlying fat and muscle and is accompanied by constricted blood vessels, creates a low-oxygen environment that encourages bacterial growth.
The ensuing tissue swelling reduces blood flow even further. The glucose in the cells is fermented, resulting in the formation of gas.
Gangrene could be divided as below 1
- Dry gangrene: This happens as a result of an arterial obstruction in the legs in general and notably in the elderly; hence, it is also known as senile gangrene.
- Wet gangrene: The mouth, bowel, vulva, and cervix are moist parts that are impacted. The venous occlusion creates blood stagnation, which promotes bacterial development.
- Gas gangrene: These bacteria, which are caused by Clostridium, create gas and quickly move into neighbouring healthy tissues.
- Necrotising Fasciitis: The skin’s deep layers are affected by necrotizing fasciitis.
Main Differences Between Necrosis and Gangrene
- NECROSIS is induced by cell injury, which leads to cell death, whereas GANGRENE is a severe form of necrosis.
- Necrosis is a condition that occurs when external or internal sources destroy cells. In contrast, gangrene is brought on by a reduction in blood flow or a disease.
- Necrosis is characterized by the loss of cell membrane integrity, enlargement of the cell, and shrinkage of the cell centre known as the nucleus, whereas Gangrene is characterized by a lack of blood supply. Cholesterol plaques constrict the artery lumen, resulting in a significant reduction in blood supply.
- Necrosis is classified into five categories. In contrast, Gangrene is classified into four categories.
- Necrotizing fasciitis is treated surgically by removing dead tissue and administering antibiotics through veins. Antibiotics, on the other hand, are routinely used to treat infection-related gangrene.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094014321008557
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0954-6820.1984.tb04972.x
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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