Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Medical
Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Prof. Ajay N. Gangopadhyay, Department of
Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi 221005 U.P. India. Tel.: +91 542 2309527; E-mail:
gangulybhu@rediffmail.com
Abstract: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive and potentially fatal
infection. It is a rare infectious entity that posses challenging diagnostic
and therapeutic management for a pediatric surgeon. Anaerobic bacteria are the
predominant flora in the normal human skin and mucous membranes and are,
therefore, a common cause of endogenous infections. Infections due to anaerobes
are often polymicrobial, and include aerobic and facultative bacteria. Some
predisposing conditions are found to be associated with the recovery of certain
anaerobe organisms. This review aims to give a better understanding of the
etiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of necrotizing fasciitis in
children with special emphasis on the role of anaerobes.
