Spanish woman infected with Buruli ulcer, a flesh-eating bacterium: ‘It’s like a shark bite’

Patricia Casas was in Peru working on a rainforest conservation project, but upon returning to Spain after five months in the Peruvian country, his life has turned into a nightmare. The biologist struggled with A disease rare and destructive: Buruli ulcer.

Buruli ulcer is one of the the world’s most neglected and least known tropical diseases, is caused by bacteria that can eat human flesh and cause severe damage to skin and tissue. In Patricia’s case, what started as a small burn injury on her left arm soon developed into ulcer 12 centimeters in diameter

causing inflammation that connected his elbow to his armpit.

Reportedly A countryDespite their scientific training, Patricia and the doctors were faced with something virtually unknown. Because it is a bacterium that is difficult to grow in the laboratory, its identification is expensive, so within a few months Patricia was subjected to various treatments and the bacteria continued to eat away at her hand.

Patricia’s treatment was long and painful. He spent almost two years taking antibiotics, but Liver damage and deafness were troubling side effects.. He also had surgery several times to try to stop the progression of the disease until he finally had surgery. received an extract

Threat to the poorest

Buruli ulcer is a disease This mainly affects the poorest regions of the world.where medical resources are limited. Although the main focus is Central AfricaCases similar to Patricia’s have been reported in other countries such as Peru. Although the transmission of the disease and its origin remain a mystery, the study shows that Mosquitoes may be behind its spread.

Now, years after bacteria ate her arm, Patricia moves on, carrying with her a physical scar but also a story of improvement and hope. This forced him to radically change his professional career because He had to leave biology to devote himself to the hotel business.where he now runs a hostel with a music tavern in Pedrun de Torio.