A MUM contracted a deadly flesh-eating bug that ravaged her bum and privates after eating prawns on date night.

Lacey Pepper was driving home from a work trip when her body and legs started to ache, but put her symptoms down to the long journey.

Lacey Pepper, 47, with her partner Adam Nations, 40

The mum in hospital with her sister Stephanie Pepper Allen, 59, after contracting a flesh-eating bug

But four days later the 47-year-old had a fever, could hardly walk, and grew concerned when her daughter spotted a blistery rash on her left leg.

Lacey, who works as a fire watcher, recalled: “I went to go for a bath, my daughter looked at me and said ‘what is wrong with your leg?’

“She said my left leg was really red with a bunch of little spots, it looked like little blisters.

“I thought it was just a boil, but the next day I couldn’t walk and it hurt so bad. I would not wish that pain on anyone.”

Lacey’s symptoms started as a rash, but soon she needed surgery to remove dead skin on her leg and bum

After consulting her doctor, the mum-of-three was told to go to hospital where she fell unconscious for the following three days.

Doctors told Lacey’s family that she had contracted the flesh-eating bug necrotising fasciitis – and there was a high possibility she wouldn’t survive.

Lacey underwent emergency surgery to remove the dead flesh from her left leg, crotch and backside.

She lost about 25 per cent of her left buttock, had the skin on the left side of her vulva removed and 25 per cent of her upper thigh.

Over the following two months, Lacey underwent a whopping 17 operations to try and rebuild the skin on her leg, and even had to learn how to walk again.

The mum has no idea how she contracted the deadly disease, which can be triggered by minor cuts, insect bites or even raw or undercooked seafood.

As Lacey didn’t have any cuts or bites, she suspects a fried shrimp meal she ate a week before falling ill may have been the culprit.

Now, two years on from her ordeal in April 2024, Lacey is urging anyone suffering from symptoms they’re concerned about to go to a doctor to get it checked out.

Lacey suspects she may have contacted necrotising fasciitis from eating shrimp

Lacey’s leg scars

Lacey, from Brookhaven, Mississippi, US, said: “I never had any health problems before this.

“Me and my boyfriend were leaving Maryland and were driving home – it’s a 16-hour drive.

“My body and legs started hurting but I thought it was just from driving for that many hours.

“Me and my boyfriend had planned a little trip to the coast. We checked in and I started feeling like I had the flu.

“I got a bowl of soup and just started throwing up. The next morning I could hardly walk, it just felt like the flu.

“We got home and I don’t think I moved, I started running a fever and [had] the shakes.”

Lacey went to the doctor after spotting the rash on her leg and was told to go to the ER immediately where it was discovered she had contracted necrotising fasciitis.

Lacey said: “I remember going to get a CT scan and I don’t remember anything after that.

“I’ve been told that the doctor said it wasn’t looking good [and that] I might not live. I might lose my leg and I might die.

“They did surgery on me and told my sister I had a flesh-eating bacteria and I had to be flown to another hospital.”

Lacey underwent surgery where she had dead flesh from her left leg, buttocks and private parts removed – before being transferred to another hospital where she was admitted to the ICU.

Over the next two months, Lacey had 17 surgeries on her left leg and spent 28 days in hospital and a further month in a nursing home to recover.

Lacey said: “I had to learn to walk again. I remember when they told me thinking ‘where did I get this from?’ I don’t get in water. I don’t even swim.

“I have no idea where I got it from. The doctors don’t know. I didn’t have any cuts on my body.

“I ate some shrimp while I was in Maryland with my boyfriend a week before I fell ill.

“You can get necrotising fasciitis from shellfish, but it could’ve been from anything.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I’m very particular about everything I do now.

“I’ve been left with a big scar and I’m still living with the after effects. I use a cane to walk with.

“If you get a boil, or anything you’re concerned about, just go to the doctors.”

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/health/16687328/bum-privates-flesh-eating-bacteria-shrimp-rash/