Skateboarding Injuries and the Risk of Flesh-Eating Disease – Signs of Infection

Skateboarding in the streets can be dangerous. Yes, you can break a bone, bop your head, or get a sprain, but even worse, you can also get an infection like the flesh-eating disease. We know because David Boots got the flesh-eating disease three times, twice in Peace Park!

Streptococcus bacteria usually live harmlessly on the skin or in the throat. However, certain kinds, like Streptococcus pyogenes, can cause serious infections if they enter the body through a cut or wound. In rare cases, they can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, also known as “flesh-eating disease.”


The bacteria got into his system through a small cut on his hand from a piece of glass. It then released toxins into his arm destroying his tissue and blocking his blood flow, leading to an infection that started spreading quickly up his arm.

Even with treatment, the flesh-eating disease kills 1 in 4 people, and if untreated, it can kill you within a few hours.

Fortunately, Boots knew the early signs of the flesh-eating disease and rushed to the hospital both times. At first, he noticed an intense pain in his hand, and within ten minutes, redness and inflammation crept up his arm to his elbow. By the time, he got to the hospital, the swelling was past his elbow. Had the infection reached his armpit he would have died. The infections would have reached his heart and get instantly pumped throughout his body ensuring death.

To help you protect yourself, here are some early signs you should be aware of.

Early symptoms

• A red, warm, or swollen area of skin that spreads quickly.
• Pain that hurts more than you think it should, based on the size of the infection.
• Sometimes, symptoms can include a fever.

As the infection worsens, the skin may look bruised, black, or blistered due to tissue death. These changes usually happen in more advanced stages but may appear early.

If you experience these early symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.

This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for any symptoms or health concerns. Neither the author nor the company is liable for outcomes related to the information provided here. If you suspect necrotizing fasciitis, seek immediate medical attention.