| Erysipelas | |
|---|---|
| Other names | St. Anthony's fire,[1] Ignis sacer, holy fire[2] |
 | |
| Erysipelas of the face due to invasive Streptococcus | |
| Pronunciation | |
| Specialty | Dermatology, infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Raised, well-defined, red rash, fever[2][3] |
| Usual onset | Rapid[2] |
| Causes | Bacterial infection[2][3] |
| Risk factors | Break in the skin, poor immune function, obesity, lymphoedema[4][2] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on appearance[4] |
| Differential diagnosis | Cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis, phlegmasia cerulea dolens, tenosynovitis, gout[2] |
| Treatment | Antibiotics[2] |
| Prognosis | Generally good[2] |
| Frequency | Relatively common[5] |
Erysipelas is an infection of part of the skin; specifically the dermis and superficial lymphatic vessels.[1] Symptoms include a raised, well-defined, red rash of rapid onset.[2] Fever and discomfort may be present.[2][3] The legs and face are most commonly involved.[2]
Most cases are caused bygroup A β-hemolytic streptococcal, but occasionally it may be caused by group C or G.[1] It may occur following break in the skin or spontaneously.[3] Other risk factors include poor immune function, obesity, and lymphoedema.[2][4] Diagnosis is generally based on its appearance.[4] Erysipelas is a type of cellulitis.[4] It differs from other forms in that it is typically more raised and demarcated.[3]
Treatment is generally with antibiotics by mouth for 10 to 14 days.[2][4] NSAIDs, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and ice packs may help with discomfort.[4] Erysipelas is relatively common.[5] The very young and old are more commonly affected.[4] The term is from Greek ἐρυσίπελας (erysípelas), meaning "red skin".[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "14. Bacterial infections". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Michael, Y; Shaukat, NM (January 2020). "Erysipelas". PMID 30335280.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e Wanat, Karolyn A.; Norton, Scott A. "Skin & Soft Tissue Infections - Chapter 11 - 2020 Yellow Book | Travelers' Health | CDC". wwwnc.cdc.gov. CDC. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Stanway, Amy; Oakley, Amanda; Gomez, Jannet (2016). "Erysipelas | DermNet NZ". dermnetnz.org. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ a b O'Brian, Gail M. (2019). "Section 1. Diseases and Disorders; Erysipelas". In Fred F. Ferri (ed.). Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2019: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia: Elsevier. p. 523. ISBN 978-0-323-53042-2. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
- ^ Bhat M, Sriram (2019). SRB's Clinical Methods in Surgery. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. p. 141. ISBN 978-93-5270-545-0. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-06-06.