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Erysipeloid is a severe bacterial infection that affects skin and other parts of the body. The bacteria named Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae causes Erysipeloid. This bacterium causes infections to animals as well as human beings. A person can get erysipeloid when he or she consumes the meat infected with E rhusiopathiae or when they come in direct contact with the infected meat. In animals, this bacteria result in swine erysipelas and numerous other disease in poultry and sheep.
It is an occupational disease. Humans get the infection when they come in direct contact with infected animals. The disease is prominent among farmers, butchers, cooks, and housewives. The infection generally occurs when the temperatures are high. E rhusiopathiae, can enter the human body via scars. Once it enters the body, the bacteria produce enzymes that help it to find its way to the tissues. It is highly resistant to the outside conditions of the environment.
Once inside the body, the disease can spread in the body by way of the vascular system to the joints, heart, brain, CNS, and lungs. Generally, these bacteria affect heart.Generally, Erysipeloid is a severe infection of the skin that cures on its own without any treatment. However, if the internal organs are affected, the patient may suffer from neurological, Cardiological, or other problems. The patient may even die of sepsis, if timely diagnosis is not done, and proper treatment is not given. The disease can affect both the sexes of any age group. However, the incidence of the disease may be more in males than females because of the occupational exposure.
There are 3 types of erysipeloid - Erysipeloid of Rosenbach or the Local Cutaneous, the Diffuse Cutaneous and the Generalized or systemic form. In the first two types of infection, the patient may feel burning sensation or pain in the rashes. In the generalized form, the patient may have fever, shivering, body ache, and headache, cough etc depending upon the location of infection. In localized form, the open parts of the body are affected-hands, the sides of the fingers, feet and face. Rashes are fine lined, bright and shiny in color and appearance. In diffuse cutaneous, the rashes are spread in various parts of the body. The rashes are fine lined with borders and are violet in color. In systemic form, rashes may not be visible. If at all the rashes are present, they may appear as in the localized form with swelling.
Generally, Penicillin is prescribed for any type of Erysipeloid or. Ceftriaxone. For patients, allergic to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin together with rifampin is advised.
E rhusiopathiae can be swept off by the use of any home disinfectants. Therefore, maintaining cleanliness can help in the preventing the disease. Disinfectants should be sprinkled in the disease prone areas, like fishing boats, butchery shops and meat counters etc.
Generally, no surgery is done. Doctors do not even recommend the use of injection as this may lead to delay in recovery. Patients with systemic form may need surgery depending on the part of body affected, for example, cardiac valve may need to be replaced, pleural tap etc.
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