Definition:
Erysipelas also known as Saint Anthony's Fire, is a streptococcus bacterial infection of the skin that results inflammation. It occurs on any part of the body, including the face, arms, fingers, legs and toes.
Diagnosis:
It is diagnosed by assessing the appearance of the rash Blood cultures is not liable but it can it is done to identify sepsis. Performing antistreptolysin O titre test after around 10 days of illness also helpful.
Treatment:
The treatment depends on the severity if the disease, oral or intravenous antibiotics, using penicillins. If the patient is allergiy with penicillin patient can take clindamycin or erythromycin.
Symptoms and Signs:
Patient may manifest high fevers, shaking, chills, fatigue, headaches, and vomiting, within 48 hours of acute infection. The rashes enlarge rapidly in the body. It describe as a red, swelling, warm to touch, hardened and painful rash. In severe infection, it will become watery and pus is present, bullae, and petechiae. If not treated necroses of the skin, swelling of the lymph node and lymphedema may occur.
Causes:
Streptococcus pyogenes is the bacteria that causes Erysipelas. People who immune deficiency, diabetes, alcoholism, with impaired lymphatic drainage, untreated ulcers and fungal infection, elderly and infant are high risk to be infected with the bacteria.
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