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Last reviewed: 19.11.2021
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Erysipelas -infectious disease caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A and occurs in an acute (primary) or chronic (recurrent) form with severe symptoms of intoxication and focal serous or serous-hemorrhagic inflammation of the skin (mucous membranes).
What causes mug?
Erysipelas is a lesion of the skin and mucous membranes with streptococcus. Microorganisms usually penetrate through small cracks in the skin, as well as by hematogenous and lymphogenous pathways. For prevention and choice of treatment method, it should be borne in mind that streptococcus spreads through the lymphatic ways and capillaries, capturing all new tissue sites.
What are the symptoms of erysipelas?
Distinguish the following forms of flow of erysipelas: light form - erythematous - is characterized by a sharp reddening and swelling of the skin; Bullous (moderate) is accompanied by pemphigus-pustular eruptions against a background of more pronounced edema of the tissues; phlegmonous gangrenous (severe form of the flow) - proceeds with the development of inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue with necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
The symptoms of erysipelas before the appearance of local changes are often fuzzy: malaise, headache, chills, fever up to 39-40 ° C. Local changes are very typical: there is redness of the skin (hyperemia) with a distinct border in the form of tongues of flame, festons, which captures all new skin areas.
If you look from the side, the edges of the inflamed skin are raised above the healthy one. The skin temperature in the affected area is above the body temperature.
Against the background of increasing edema of the tissues, bubbles with light or cloudy contents may appear. This indicates a severe form of erysipelas.
As the inflammatory process spreads, the previously affected areas of the skin may become pale, their puffiness may decrease.
Progression of inflammation is accompanied by a rise in body temperature to 39-41 ° C. In severe cases of the inflammatory process, confusion may occur at a temperature elevation, delirium.
Erysipelas can be accompanied by the development of thrombophlebitis, nephritis, pneumonia.
What's bothering you?
What do need to examine?
What tests are needed?
Who to contact?
How is the erysipelas treated?
Treatment of erysipelas includes antibacterial therapy (penicillin 500,000 units 4-6 times a day intramuscularly or intravenously), topical treatment (UV irradiation with erythematous form, bandages with ointments containing antiseptics), enhancement of the body's defenses (easily assimilated, vitamin-rich food , in severe cases - transfusion of freshly citrated blood, etc.).
Patients with erysipelas should be isolated from others. Usually in uncomplicated cases, the duration of the disease does not exceed 10 days.