Necrosis facts for kids

Necrosis is a serious medical condition where parts of a person's body die. This means the tissues in that area stop working and can even turn black. It happens when these tissues do not get enough blood. Without blood, cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay alive.

What is Necrosis?

Necrosis is when cells and tissues in the body die unexpectedly. This is different from apoptosis, which is a planned cell death. When necrosis happens, the dead tissue cannot heal itself or grow back. It often needs to be removed by doctors to prevent further problems.

Why Does Necrosis Happen?

Many things can cause necrosis. Here are some common reasons:

• Lack of Blood Flow: This is the most common cause. If blood cannot reach a part of the body, the cells there will starve and die. This can happen if a blood vessel is blocked or damaged.
• Injuries: Severe injuries, like burns or deep cuts, can damage tissues so much that they die.
• Poisons: Certain chemicals or toxins can directly harm cells and cause them to die.
• Infections: Some bacteria or other germs can release substances that kill body tissues.
• Radiation: Too much radiation can damage cells and lead to necrosis.

Different Kinds of Necrosis

Doctors describe different types of necrosis based on how the dead tissue looks:

• Coagulative Necrosis: This is the most common type. The dead tissue looks firm, like cooked meat. It often happens when blood flow stops suddenly, like in a heart attack.
• Liquefactive Necrosis: In this type, the dead tissue turns into a liquid, gooey mass. This often happens in the brain or in areas with bacterial infections.
• Caseous Necrosis: The dead tissue looks soft and crumbly, like cheese. This is often seen in diseases like tuberculosis.
• Fat Necrosis: This happens when fatty tissues are damaged, often in the pancreas or after an injury to fatty areas. The fat breaks down into a chalky substance.
• Gangrenous Necrosis: This is a type of necrosis that often affects limbs, like fingers or toes. It can be dry (tissue dries up and turns black) or wet (tissue is infected and swollen).

How is Necrosis Treated?

Treating necrosis is very important because dead tissue can cause serious health problems.

• Removing Dead Tissue: Doctors often need to remove the dead tissue. This is called debridement. It helps stop the necrosis from spreading and allows healthy tissue to heal.
• Improving Blood Flow: If the problem is poor blood flow, doctors might try to open blocked blood vessels.
• Treating Infections: If an infection is causing the necrosis, antibiotics are used to fight the germs.
• Surgery: In severe cases, a part of the body with necrosis might need to be removed through surgery.

It is important to see a doctor quickly if you think someone has necrosis. Early treatment can help prevent serious complications.

Images for kids

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  Structural changes of cells undergoing necrosis and apoptosis

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  Necrotic leg wound caused by a brown recluse spider bite

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  Cytoplasmic hypereosinophilia (seen in left half of image).

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  Pseudopalisading seen around necrosis in glioblastoma.

See also

In Spanish: Necrosis para niños