Erysipeloid
Erysipeloid is an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. It manifests itself by inflammatory lesions of the joints and skin. Most often, the erysipeloid is localized in the area of the skin and joints of the hand, usually on the back side. There is a chance of developing the disease in a generalized form. Erysipeloid is diagnosed according to the clinic and the course of the disease, the isolation of the causative agent of infection from a skin biopsy or blood, as well as on the basis of epidemiological data of anamnesis. The main method of treating erysipeloid is antibiotic therapy. Depending on the case, anti-inflammatory, antihistamines, detoxification drugs, as well as physiotherapy are also used.
The content of the article:
Causes of erysipeloid
Symptoms of erysipeloid
Diagnosis of erysipeloid
Treatment of erysipeloid
Erysipeloid
For the first time this disease was described in detail in 1873. After in 1882, the French chemist Louis Pasteur identified the causative agent of the erysipeloid. He called the discovery a “pig’s face.” Erysipeloid is a zoonotic infection (that is, one that is transmitted from animals to humans), therefore, the main risk group are people whose professions are directly connected with close contact with the animal world. The highest chance of getting infected are people who are engaged in cutting meat or fish (butchers, cooks, hunters, veterinarians, animal breeders).
The surge in morbidity usually falls during the summer-autumn period.
Causes of erysipeloid
The cause of erysipeloid is the corynebacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. There are two types of this bacterium — pig and mouse. Their difference is that the first type is found only in domestic animals, and the second — in wild ones. A person becomes infected by contact through food, water, meat or the skin of a sick animal. In turn, the animal transmits pathogenic bacteria through urine or feces. For this reason, a person with erysipeloid does not pose a threat to other people, since the infection is not transmitted during human-to-human contact. The causative agent of the erysipeloid penetrates through the skin when its integrity is violated, for example, with scratches, cuts, combs, diaper rash and scuffs. Also, itchy dermatoses, such as eczema, dermatitis, pruritus, can serve as a cause. Infection most often occurs through injuries to the skin of the hands, where the process of inflammation develops, which can also affect the interphalangeal joints. In the generalized form of the disease, the infection rarely spreads through the blood or lymphatic vessels.
Symptoms of erysipeloid
The average incubation period of infection lasts mainly a couple of days, but there are cases when it can last a whole week. Depending on the characteristics of the manifestation of infection, dermatologists distinguish several main forms of erysipeloid: generalized, cutaneous, angiotic, skin-articular.
Cutaneous erysipeloid
The most common skin form of infection. The disease proceeds sluggishly, such symptoms of intoxication of the body as subfebrility, chills, slight malaise, etc. are poorly expressed. In some individual cases, a general increase in temperature may not be observed. The disease usually begins with a burning sensation or itching in the area of penetration of the pathogen. After a short period of time, redness and swelling can be noticed in this place. The redness gradually takes on a purplish color and begins to spread along the periphery, mainly in the proximal direction. This process is often accompanied by lymphangitis and lymphadenitis.
This infection is characterized by the beginning of the spread of redness from the center. Erythema acquires a bluish hue, and then begins to pale to a bluish hue. During this process, edema and redness may persist along the periphery of the erythema site. After a few days, the redness of the edges of the erythema pales and smoothes, the swelling subsides. Then the redness disappears and a slight temporary peeling of the skin remains. Usually, the entire course of infection with this form of erysipeloid lasts no more than ten days.
Cutaneous-articular erysipeloid
The skin-articular form of the erysipeloid is characterized by the presence of inflammatory processes in the joints between the phalanges. Against the background of erythema, pain and swelling of the joints on the hand can be observed, as well as the limitation of their movement. This disease usually lasts about two weeks. In special cases, this form of infection becomes chronic, which can provoke the development of arthritis of the interphalangeal joint.
Angiotic erysipeloid
The anginous form of erysipeloid is found in cases of eating products infected with bacteria of the pathogen. This form of infection is characterized by a combination of skin manifestations, as with other forms, with symptoms of a disease such as angina.
Generalized erysipeloid
The generalized form of infection is very, very rare. In this form, skin manifestations (erythematous spots) occur diffusely and can be localized over the entire surface of the body. The disease is accompanied by general intoxication of the body, an increase in the liver and spleen. It is also possible to develop arthritis and damage to internal organs. This can trigger the development of diseases such as: pneumonia, endocarditis, meningitis. Sometimes a serious complication in the form of sepsis can develop.
Diagnosis of erysipeloid
Since the symptoms of erysipeloid manifest themselves in the form of skin changes, patients usually make an appointment with a dermatologist. When collecting anamnesis, the doctor must find out whether the patient is related to the cutting of meat or fish. Further dermatological examination helps to determine the typical manifestations of erysipeloid, as well as the presence of microtrauma, which is the gateway to infection. The final diagnosis is confirmed by isolating the infection from a tissue sample that was taken during a skin biopsy of the affected area.
Patients with a generalized form of erysipeloid are diagnosed due to bacterial blood culture for the presence of an infectious agent. If secondary infectious foci begin to develop in the internal organs, consultations of specialized doctors are required: a pulmonologist, cardiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, as well as conducting studies such as lung radiography, kidney ultrasound, ECG, spinal puncture and MRI of the brain.
Treatment of erysipeloid
Treatment of erysipeloid usually lasts about a week and is carried out taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen. In the treatment, it is possible to use antibiotics of the penicillin, tetracycline, cephalosporin series. In some cases, antibiotic therapy is carried out together with detoxification measures, as well as with the use of antihistamines or anti-inflammatory drugs. Of the physiotherapeutic methods of treatment for erysipeloid, UHF, UFO, magnetotherapy are especially effective,
