A mother is warning other parents about red track lines she found on her son’s foot, marks that turned out to be far more harmful than they initially appeared.
Keep reading to learn about the red streaks that map an infection as it travels through the body’s lymphatic system.
In 2023, Lisa Davies shared a concerning post on Instagram, explaining that after finding red streaks on her son’s arm, the child was hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening condition.
“Crazy how fast it spread,” Davies writes about her boy, who was on intravenous antibiotics for four days while he was in hospital, followed by oral treatment at home for another seven.
Doctors identified the marks as a sign of an alarming condition called lymphangitis, described by Medical News Today (MNT) as an “infection and inflammation of the lymph vessels,” that “can result from a bacterial skin infection.”
People who are immunocompromised – like those with diabetes, HIV, cancer or on drugs that suppress the immune system – are at an increased risk.
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections are the most common cause of lymphangitis, but viral and fungal infections are also culprits.
“Lymphangitis occurs as a secondary infection. This means it happens because of another infection. If an infection travels from the original site to the lymph vessels, the vessels become inflamed and infected,” writes MNT.
Possible causes:
- Puncture wounds, such as from stepping on a nail or other sharp object.
- Untreated or severe skin infections.
- Insect bites or stings.
- An open wound without stitches.
- Infected surgical wounds.
- Sporotrichosis (a skin infection caused by the fungus sporothrix, which is found in soil and plants).
And because it moves so quickly, “anyone who has signs of lymphangitis should seek treatment immediately. In some cases, not treating the infection can lead to severe complications, such as sepsis,” a life-threatening condition that can cause fever, flu-like symptoms and organ failure.
How to identify lymphangitis streaks:
- Red or darker on surrounding skin
- Irregular in shape
- Warm to the touch
- Tender or painful
- Spread from an infection site toward the lymph nodes, for example, up the arms towards the underarm
Lymphangitis may be more difficult to spot on darker skin and doctors will diagnose the condition by tracking the lymphatic path.
Common symptoms:
- Rapid heart rate or weak pulse
- Confusion
- Severe pain
- breathing problems
- Fever or chills
- Clammy skin or sweating
‘Lost a loved one’
One netizen is very familiar with the red streaks and the devastating consequence of sepsis. Adding to Davies Instagram post, shared on Tiny Hearts Education, the user writes: “I had an insect bite a few weeks ago on my shoulder that started tracking down towards my chest. I had no idea what it was, so got checked. I was given IV antibiotics and then a course of oral antibiotics, which thankfully, cleared the infection.” The comment continues, “A week later, we lost a loved one due to a bacterial infection that caused sepsis. I wish this was more widely known.”
A second online user writes that she had a streak traveling from her toe to her groin and left it untreated until it became a serious medical emergency. “My whole leg was almost amputated,” the user writes. “I nearly died from sepsis.”
Encouraging people to have any red tracks checked out immediately, another netizen writes, “It spreads SO QUICKLY. My son had a streak going up hot and growing but the time we waited in ER it spread even more it was scary! But [it’s] so important to treat quick.”
Aggressive antibiotic treatment of the underlying infection is typically required and rarely, the person may need surgery to remove infected tissue.
Remember that lymphangitis progresses rapidly so if you find tracks on your child’s body, or on yours, treat it seriously and visit a doctor!
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