$Unique_ID{BRK03723} $Pretitle{} $Title{Erysipelas} $Subject{Erysipelas Saint Anthony Fire Cellulitis Orbital Cellulitis Herpes Zoster Angioedema Contact Dermatitis} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 757: Erysipelas ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Erysipelas) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Saint Anthony Fire Cellulitis Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Orbital Cellulitis Herpes Zoster Angioedema Contact Dermatitis General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Erysipelas is a bacterial infection characterized by a spreading inflammation of the skin and its underlying tissue (cellulitis) particularly on the face, arms or legs. It is a type of cellulitis which is a due to an acute infection by streptococci bacteria. Symptoms Erysipelas usually first appears as a localized, tender red lesion that rapidly becomes bright red, shiny, hot and painful and develops a raised, spreading border. There may be accompanying high fever, chills, headache, nausea and a general feeling of ill health. The skin in the infected area may resemble the peel of an orange. Infants may develop Erysipelas on the abdomen due to infection of the umbilical cord. In children and adults the most commonly affected areas are the face, legs and arms. Infection may also occur at sites of minor surgery or trauma, and may be a complication of lymphatic obstruction. Causes Erysipelas is caused by group A streptococci bacteria. Affected Population Erysipelas is a fairly common infection that may affect anyone at any age. It is most common in infants, young children and the elderly. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Erysipelas. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Orbital Cellulitis is a bacterial infection characterized by inflammation of the tissue surrounding the eye. Symptoms may include pain in the eye socket, abnormal protrusion of the eyeball, impaired movement of the eye, swelling of the eyelid and fever. Herpes Zoster is a viral infection of the central nervous system. It is characterized by the eruption of blisters, nerve pain and severe itching of the skin. The involved skin is usually very sensitive and painful. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Herpes Zoster" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Hereditary Angioedema is a disorder characterized by swelling of parts of the skin of the hands or feet, the eyelids, lips and genitalia. The swollen tissue is painful and hard to the touch. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Angioedema, Hereditary" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Contact Dermatitis is a common acute or chronic skin inflammation triggered by substances that one is allergic to which come in contact with the skin. It is characterized by red, itching, oozing, crusting, scaling, burning and painful skin. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Contact Dermatitis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Therapies: Standard Erysipelas is usually treated with oral antibiotics such as penicillin or erythromycin. Cold packs, aspirin and pain relievers may be prescribed for relief of local discomfort. If the Erysipelas is extensive, the infected individual may have to be hospitalized to receive antibiotics intravenously. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through January 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Erysipelas, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5717 References INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and Co., 1987. Pp. 1508. THE MERCK MANUAL, Volume 1, 14th Ed.: Robert Berkow, M.D., ed.-in-chief; Merck Sharp & Dohme Laboratories, 1982. Pp. 49-51, 2265. CHANGES IN THE PATTERN OF INFECTION CAUSED BY STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES. E. Gaworzewska et al.; EPIDEMIOL INFECT (April, 1988; issue 100 (2)). Pp. 257- 269. CELLULITIS AND RELATED SKIN INFECTIONS. S.J. Suss et al.; AM FAM PHYSICIAN (September, 1987; issue 36 (3)). Pp. 126-136. ERYSIPELAS AND GROUP G STREPTOCOCCI. M. Hugo-Persson et al.; INFECTION (May-June, 1987; issue 15(3)). Pp. 184-187.