Chinese man develops flesh-eating disease after drinking Coke daily

The man, identified only by his surname Wu, had been fond of sugary drinks since childhood. By adulthood, guzzling Coke became routine, even as his health began to show warning signs. At just 20, he was diagnosed with high uric acid levels and gout, a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid crystals in the blood. Still, he ignored medical advice and continued his daily soda intake, Mothership reported.

Over time, the condition worsened. Hard lumps of uric acid crystals, known as tophi, formed in his joints, including his hands and feet. Although visible, Wu said the growths caused no pain and did not interfere with his daily life, so he chose not to seek treatment, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

That complacency proved dangerous. Recently, the tophi in his hands and right foot ruptured, creating painful ulcers. The situation escalated when a bone in his right toe broke through the skin, paving the way for necrotising fasciitis: a rare, aggressive bacterial infection more commonly known as flesh-eating disease.

Doctors at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital’s Center for the Treatment of Rare and Difficult Wounds said Wu’s condition was critical, and his right foot was at risk of amputation to stop the infection from spreading. He was admitted for emergency surgery and intensive treatment.

After 27 days of care, which included controlling the bacterial infection, surgically removing tophi and putting Wu on a strict low-purine diet to cut uric acid levels, doctors managed to save his leg.

According to Singapore’s National University Health System, gout usually begins with sudden, painful arthritis in the lower limbs, with joints becoming swollen, red and tender. In early stages it affects one joint, but if left untreated, it can spread to multiple joints and cause irreversible damage.