Erysipelas is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the superficial dermis and lymphatic vessels. The disease can manifest rapidly, in one or two days, with an area of skin that is intensely red, warm, swollen and painful, and may be accompanied by fever, chills and malaise. Beta-hemolytic streptococci, including Streptococcus pyogenes, are among the most frequently associated agents with the infection.
In general, there is an entry point in the skin that allows the bacteria to enter, such as athlete's foot between the toes, heel fissure, abrasion, bite, trauma lesion, chronic wound or other disruption of the skin barrier. Factors such as chronic edema, venous or lymphatic insufficiency, obesity, diabetes, alterations of the skin barrier and previous episodes increase vulnerability to the disease.
The problem is that the first signs of erysipelas are still underestimated, and delaying medical evaluation can allow the infection to progress. Therefore, treatment should begin as soon as the first symptoms appear, avoiding complications.
