Cellulitis Erysipelas: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

Question 1. Enumerate differences between cellulitis and erysipelas.

Answer.

Acute Infections Enumerate diffrences between cellulitis and erysipelas

Question 2. Write a short note on Erysipelas.

Answer. Erysipelas is an acute spreading inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and is associated with severe lymphangitis.

Infection occurs through small scratches or abrasions and spreads rapidly causing toxemia.

Erysipelas Clinical Features

Erysipelas occurs commonly in children and old people.
Sites commonly affected are the face, eyelids, scrotum in infants, and the umbilicus.
There is the presence of a rose pink rash with a raised edge and its consistency is of a buttonhole.
Features of toxemia are commonly present.
The redness of the lesion becomes brown and later on yellow with the presence of vesicles.
Discharge from the lesion is serious.
There is the presence of edema of the face and orbit.
When erysipelas occur on the face involves pinna since it is cuticular lymphangitis.
This is called Milian’s ear sign positive.
This sign diffrentiate erysipelas from cellulitis.
Tender, regional lymph nodes are palpable.

Erysipelas Complications

Toxemia and septicemia.
Gangrene of skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Lymphoedema of the face and eyelids occurs due to lymphatic obstruction.
Abscess pneumonia and meningitis may develop.

Erysipelas Treatment

Injection of crystalline penicillin 10 lakh units 6 hourly IM/IV for 5 to 10 days.