Inadvertent small wounds actually led to the "poison" of the lower limbs

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Riddle: The skin suddenly turns red and is as colored as Tu Dan

Tip: Hit a disease

Guess the small partner, welcome to the message area to type out. If you don't know the mystery, keep looking down, after reading you will know~

A question for everyone, when you accidentally get scratched, cut or bruised, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Go to the pharmacy, go to the hospital, or let it go?

In fact, because of bumps and bumps in life, it is always inevitable to suffer some small injuries, but for these small wounds, it is not allowed to go unchecked, otherwise the light may cause wound infection, and the heavy may cause disease or endanger life.

Today, Benhua wants to take you to understand an acute skin disease mainly caused by some inadvertent small wounds - erysipelas.

What is erysipelas?

Image source "Atlas of Common Skin Diseases: Facial Erysipelas"

Although erysipelas is named "poison", it has nothing to do with poisoning or poison gas, and is related to a pathogenic microorganism called hemolytic streptococcus/Staphylococcus aureus, which is an acute inflammatory response caused by bacterial infection.

Erysipelas also has a nice common name: flowing fire. The name is good, but the power of the disease is not small, and then talk about how erysipelas is "threatening" step by step.

How is it caused?

Erysipelas is mainly caused by hemolytic streptococcus (usually group A β hemolytic streptococcus, occasionally group C, B, or G), invading the lesions of the mucous membranes of the skin.

For example, some people often pick their noses to dig their noses, dig their ears, scratch their scalps, if one accidentally damages the skin mucous membrane, the latent germs will take this opportunity to rely on their own powerful virogenic hormones, exert their power, invade skin wounds, take root and grow, and multiply in large quantities.

Therefore, patients often have a history of skin and mucosal damage before the onset of the disease.

In addition to wounds and wounds inducing erysipelas, the following factors increase the risk of erysipelas:

●Tinea pedis, toenail fungal disease, and rhinitis (usually people with tinea pedis can develop secondary bacterial infections, especially scratches due to itching, and erysipelas is more likely to occur after skin breakage).

●Calf ulcers, chronic eczema, etc. can also induce this disease.

●Low body resistance, such as diabetes, chronic liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, etc.

Typical features: sudden redness, color like Tu Dan

This is a medical description of the disease, which refers to the sudden redness of the skin of the affected area, which is as colored as Tudan.

Erysipelas onset is acute, and unlike other skin diseases, erysipelas often precedes the onset of prodromal symptoms that last for several hours, such as fever, chills, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms of general malaise.

After a few hours to a day, a small patch of erythema appears and progressively enlarges, and the lesion is clearly demarcated from the surrounding unaffected skin. The affected area is warm, tense, shiny, and indurated and non-pitting edema, with burning and tenderness at the affected site, and lymphadenopathy is common, with or without lymphadenitis.

Some people may develop blisters or bullae containing serous pus-induced fluid, which can lead to local gangrene. When the infection heals, desquamation and post-inflammatory pigment changes may occur.

It usually occurs on the calves and face, so it has different names depending on the location of the disease. The following limb erysipelas, facial erysipelas, etc.

There are many types of erysipelas, briefly speaking of erysipelas typing:

● Blisters, bullae or pustules on the basis of erythema are called blisters, bullae and pustular erysipelas, respectively;

● Inflammation as deep as the subcutaneous tissue and cause skin gangrene, called gangrene erysipelas;

● Lesions that resolve and expand on the one hand, spreading in the form of islands, called wandering erysipelas;

● If there are multiple recurrent attacks in a certain part of the body, it is called recurrent erysipelas;

How is it treated? Can it be cured?

Don't worry, it can be cured. Most patients are treated aggressively and generally have a good prognosis, but are not regularly administered or predisposing factors persist, often resulting in recurrent seizures. Therefore, the treatment of erysipelas requires early diagnosis, early treatment, and adherence to standardized treatment.

Penicillin is the treatment of erysipelas, and erythromycin or quinolones may be used in penicillin allergy. While antibiotics are treated, topical medications and their adjuncts are also important:

● Topical medication: Wet compresses of 25% 50% magnesium sulfate or 0.5% furacillin solution if used.

●Topical antibiotic ointment: such as mopirocin ointment.

●Physical therapy: The use of ultraviolet radiation, ultra-short wave, infrared, etc. have a certain effect.

Prevent erysipelas from doing so

● Protect yourself from injury

The first priority is, of course, to protect the delicate skin, maintain its integrity, and avoid skin abrasions, bruises or ulcers. If the skin is damaged, be sure to deal with it quickly and do not let the bacteria have the opportunity to take advantage of it.

●Active treatment of underlying medical conditions

Patients who are plagued by tinea pedis, rhinitis, eczema, etc., should be treated as soon as possible and the underlying disease should be actively treated to avoid recurrence.

● Skin cleansing and moisturizing is also important

Do a good job of skin cleaning, strengthen the awareness of cleansing, and bathe frequently. After bathing, apply moisturizer over the body or topically. This is especially important for people with dry skin.

● Correct bad habits

Don't be mean, can't help but pick your feet, nose, itch, these behaviors will increase the risk of erysipelas.

That's it for the introduction of erysipelas. Whoever loves will pass on health knowledge to whom, share this article with your loved ones ~ May your loved ones and those who love you no longer be bothered by skin diseases!

〔Reference〕

James W.D.et al. Andrews Clinical Dermatology, 11th Edition[M].Beijing Science Press, 2014:255.

Zhao Wei. Chinese Clinical Dermatology[M].Nanjing:Jiangsu Science and Technology Press.2010.

[3] Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the infectious diseases society of America. Clin Infect Dis 2014; 59:147.