Erysipelas (patient information): Difference between revisions

	Erysipelas
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Erysipelas?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Prevention
Erysipelas On the Web
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Images of Erysipelas
Videos on Erysipelas
FDA on Erysipelas
CDC on Erysipelas
Erysipelas in the news
Blogs on Erysipelas
Directions to Hospitals Treating Erysipelas
Risk calculators and risk factors for Erysipelas

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Latest revision as of 21:38, 29 July 2020

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Overview

Erysipelas is a skin inflammatory disease that is caused by infection by streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria. It usually manifests with a painful, raised red rash that with distinct borders from normal skin. Symptoms can also include fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, and vomiting. It is important to diagnose and treat Erysipelas as soon as possible to prevent possibly life-threatening complications.

What are the symptoms of Erysipelas?

Blisters
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Headaches
Vomiting
Painful, red, swollen, and warm skin underneath a sore with raised borders around normal skin

What causes Erysipelas?

Erysipelas is usually caused by group A streptococcus bacterial infection, but can also be caused by group B, C, and G streptococcus infection as well. Rarely, Erysipelas can be caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Who is at highest risk?

Individuals displaying the following traits are at highest risk for developing Erysipelas:

Overweight or obesity
History of breast cancer and mastectomy as treatment
Aged 55 years and older
Diagnosed with venous insufficiency
Weakened immune system from illness or medication
Having open cuts or skin abrasions, as well as ulcers

Diagnosis

Erysipelas is usually diagnosed with a physical examination of the affected skin. Laboratory tests may be performed to confirm the exact cause of Erysipelas, including a swabbing for a culture analysis, to determine the best treatment regimen.

When to seek urgent medical care?

You should seek urgent medical care if you experience any of the symptoms indicative of Erysipelas. It is crucial to begin antibiotic treatment as soon as possible to relieve the current symptoms and prevent future spread of bacterial infection to avoid complications.

Treatment options

Treatment for Erysipelas includes antibiotics to target the bacterial infection and may include the following:

Diagnosis and assessment of cause and severity will determine your specific treatment regimen. You may be given pain relievers, such as tylenol, to manage symptoms.

Where to find medical care for Erysipelas?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Erysipelas

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Without treatment, the prognosis of Erysipelas varies based on the development of complications from the infectious cause, some of which can be life-threatening.
With treatment, prognosis is good and full recovery is expected.

Possible complications

Possible complications of Erysipelas result from the spread of infection to the bloodstream, muscles, joints, and bones, as well as worsened symptoms of the skin:

Prevention of Erysipelas

Preventing Erysipelas includes avoiding skin cuts, abrasions, and ulcers. It includes maintaining a healthy weight and hygienic cautionary measures to avoid streptococcal infection, including staying healthy, washing hands frequently, and avoiding physical contact with streptococcus patients.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000618.htm

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+__NOTOC__
 {{Template:Erysipelas (patient information)}}
 '''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Erysipelas|here]]'''
-{{CMG}}
+{{CMG}} {{AE}} {{LRO}}
 ==Overview==
-Erysipelas is a type of skin infection (cellulitis).
+Erysipelas is a skin [[inflammatory]] disease that is caused by infection by [[streptococcal]] and [[staphylococcal]] [[bacteria]]. It usually manifests with a painful, raised red rash that with distinct borders from normal skin. Symptoms can also include [[fever]], [[chills]], [[fatigue (physical|fatigue]], [[headaches]], and [[vomiting]]. It is important to diagnose and treat Erysipelas as soon as possible to prevent possibly life-threatening complications.
 ==What are the symptoms of Erysipelas?==
-* Blisters
+*[[Blisters]]
-* Fever, shaking, and chills
+*[[Fever]]
-* Painful, very red, swollen, and warm skin underneath the sore (lesion)
+*[[Chills]]
-* Skin lesion with a raised border
+*[[Fatigue (physical|Fatigue]]
-* Sores (erysipelas lesions) on the cheeks and bridge of the nose
+*[[Headaches]]
+*[[Vomiting]]
+*Painful, red, swollen, and warm skin underneath a [[lesion|sore]] with raised borders around normal skin
 ==What causes Erysipelas?==
-Erysipelas is usually caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria.
+Erysipelas is usually caused by group A [[streptococcus]] [[bacterial]] infection, but can also be caused by group B, C, and G [[streptococcus]] infection as well. Rarely, Erysipelas can be caused by ''[[Staphylococcus aureus]]'' or ''[[Streptococcus pneumoniae]]'' infection.
-Risk factors include:
-* A cut in the skin
-* Problems with drainage through the veins or lymph system
-* Skin sores (ulcers)
-In the past, the face was the most common site of infection. Now it accounts for only about 20% of cases. The legs are affected in up to 80% of cases.
 ==Who is at highest risk?==
-The condition may affect both children and adults.
+Individuals displaying the following traits are at highest risk for developing Erysipelas:
+*[[Overweight]] or [[obesity]]
+*History of [[breast cancer]] and [[mastectomy]] as treatment
+*Aged 55 years and older
+*Diagnosed with [[venous insufficiency]]
+*[[Immunocompromise|Weakened immune system]] from illness or medication
+*Having open cuts or skin abrasions, as well as [[ulcers]]
 ==Diagnosis==
-Erysipelas is diagnosed based on how the skin looks. A biopsy of the skin is usually not needed.
+Erysipelas is usually diagnosed with a physical examination of the affected skin. Laboratory tests may be performed to confirm the exact cause of Erysipelas, including a swabbing for a culture analysis, to determine the best treatment regimen.
 ==When to seek urgent medical care?==
-Call your health care provider if you have a skin sore (lesion) that looks like erysipelas.
+You should seek urgent medical care if you experience any of the symptoms indicative of Erysipelas. It is crucial to begin [[antibiotic]] treatment as soon as possible to relieve the current symptoms and prevent future spread of [[bacterial]] infection to avoid complications.
 ==Treatment options==
-Antibiotics such as penicillin are used to eliminate the infection. In severe cases, antibiotics may need to be given through an IV (intravenous line).
+Treatment for Erysipelas includes [[antibiotics]] to target the [[bacterial]] infection and may include the following:
+*[[Penicillin]]
+*[[Erythromycin]]
+*[[Amoxicillin]]
+*[[Ceftriaxone]]
+*[[Cefazolin]]
+*[[Vancomycin]]
+*[[Daptomycin]]
+*[[Linezolid]]
-Those who have repeated episodes of erysipelas may need long-term antibiotics.
+Diagnosis and assessment of cause and severity will determine your specific treatment regimen. You may be given [[analgesics|pain relievers]], such as [[tylenol]], to manage symptoms.
 ==Where to find medical care for Erysipelas?==
@@ Line 44: / Line 53: @@
 ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
-With treatment, the outcome is good. It may take a few weeks for the skin to return to normal. Peeling is common.
+*Without treatment, the prognosis of Erysipelas varies based on the development of complications from the infectious cause, some of which can be life-threatening.
+*With treatment, prognosis is good and full recovery is expected.
 ==Possible complications==
-In some patients, the bacteria may travel to the blood. This results in a condition called bacteremia. The infection may spread to the heart valves, joints, and bones.
+Possible complications of Erysipelas result from the spread of infection to the bloodstream, muscles, joints, and bones, as well as worsened symptoms of the skin:
+*[[Necrotizing fasciitis]]
-Other complications include:
+*[[Bursitis]], [[arthritis]], [[tendinitis]], [[osteitis]]
+*[[Bacteremia]]
-* Return of infection
+*[[Septic shock]]
-* Septic shock
+*[[Gangrene]]
+*[[Toxic shock syndrome]]
+*[[Meningitis]]
 ==Prevention of Erysipelas==
-Keep your skin healthy by avoiding dry skin and preventing cuts and scrapes. This may reduce the risk for erysipelas.
+Preventing Erysipelas includes avoiding skin cuts, abrasions, and ulcers. It includes maintaining a healthy weight and hygienic cautionary measures to avoid [[streptococcal]] infection, including staying healthy, washing hands frequently, and avoiding physical contact with [[streptococcus]] patients.
 ==Sources==
 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000618.htm
+{{WH}}
+{{WS}}
 [[Category:Patient information]]
-[[Category:Overview complete]]
-[[Category:Template complete]]
 [[Category:Dermatology]]
-[[Category:Dermatology patient information]]
+[[Category:Emergency medicine]]
+[[Category:Disease]]
-{{WH}}
+[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
-{{WS}}
+[[Category:Infectious disease]]