The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
WHAT started off as a small wart on a Bulawayo man’s foot turned out to be a nightmare as he had his leg amputated after it was affected by a dry gangrene, a condition that stops blood supply to parts of the body?
Mr Edmore Shumba said it began as a small wart.
“I noticed a small wart on my toe and I dismissed it as nothing three months ago. Then it developed puss inside and I went to the doctor who cleaned it out. That is when the trouble began,” he said.
Mr Shumba said after the puss was drained the whole leg started to swell and he was given drugs to ease the pain for two weeks.
He got the shock of his life when he returned to the doctor and was told he had a kidney failure.
“When I returned to consult on the leg I was told both my kidneys are not functioning well and I started worrying as I didn’t know if there was any relation with the initial problem of my leg,” he said.
Mr Shumba was then referred for dialysis and after that he said he suffered bouts of confusion as he would often suffer memory lapses. However, he underwent more dialysis sessions but lamented the high cost of the procedure.
“Both my wife and I are unemployed; we have two children who need school fees, uniforms and books. Dialysis costs $120 per session plus an extra $20 for blood samples. I also have to hire a car from Kwekwe where I live to go to Gweru where I am accessing medication. It is very expensive for me,” he said
Due to the gangrene his leg started turning black and was emitting a foul smell showing signs that it was rotting.
“The doctors then said there was no option but to amputate the leg and it was done two weeks ago. So now I am recovering and I am appealing for assistance to come up with fees for dialysis as well as fend for my family. We have rentals and fees that are due,” he said.
Dry gangrene is a condition that follows after there is a cut in blood supply to a diseased or injured area resulting in an inability of the tissue to repair.
Gangrene is almost exclusively limited to the extremities especially the feet and toes. In early stages, dry gangrene causes some dull, aching pain — the affected area is extremely painful to palpate (feel, touch). Then, it becomes cold, dry and wrinkled.
In later stages of gangrene, the skin gradually changes colour to dark brown, a dark purplish-blue, then completely black.
Finally, the affected gangrenous tissues become visibly separated from the surrounding healthy tissues. Ultimately, they become desiccated (dried up) and mummified. Dry gangrene of this magnitude is rare except when patients refuse amputation.
