| Erysipelas (a.k.a. St. Anthony's fire) is an acute skin | | | | Erysipelas is a condition which most commonly |
| infection caused by group A | | | | affects infants, children, and the elderly. People with |
| <i>Streptococcus</i> bacteria which | | | | immune deficiency (e.g. those infected by the HIV), |
| typically affects the face, ears, and lower legs. It is a | | | | skin ulceration, and fungal infections are also |
| superficial form of cellulitis in that the infection is | | | | susceptible to infection. Other risk factors include cuts |
| closer to the skin surface as opposed to a deeper | | | | and abrasions on the skin. Dermatologists diagnose |
| layer of the skin. Following infection, a rash forms on | | | | Erysipelas by examining but blood cultures may be |
| the affected skin which is well demarcated and | | | | analyzed as well to rule out sepsis. Skin biopsies are |
| typically red, warm, painful, and swollen. It is small | | | | usually not helpful. |
| initially but expands quickly. The rash may also be | | | | Treatment |
| dimpled or blistered. | | | | Treatment of Erysipelas is normally through antibiotics |
| The appearance of the rash is abrupt and is | | | | such as penicillin, erythromycin, dicloxacillin, and |
| preceded by symptoms such as high fever, chills, | | | | cephalosporins. Treatment is normally continued for |
| vomiting, and headaches. These symptoms typically | | | | around 10-14 days and signs of illness relent within a |
| occur approximately 24 to 48 hours prior to the | | | | day or two. The skin may still take a few weeks to |
| onset of the rash. In the past, the face was most | | | | heal. Erysipelas recurs in about one third of cases, in |
| vulnerable but it now appears more commonly on the | | | | which case long-term treatment with antibiotics may |
| legs. | | | | be necessary. |