Erysipelas is a relatively common bacterial infection of the superficial layer of the skin (upper dermis), extending to the superficial lymphatic vessels within the ...ErysipelasFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchHumandisease(bacterialinfectionoftheskin)MedicalconditionErysipelasOthernamesIgnissacer,holyfire,St.Anthony'sfireErysipelasofthefaceduetoinvasiveStreptococcusPronunciation/ɛriˈsɪpələs/SpecialtyDermatology,InfectiousdiseaseErysipelasisarelativelycommonbacterialinfectionofthesuperficiallayeroftheskin(upperdermis),extendingtothesuperficiallymphaticvesselswithintheskin,characterizedbyaraised,well-defined,tender,brightredrash,typicallyonthefaceorlegs,butwhichcanoccuranywhereontheskin.Itisaformofcellulitisandispotentiallyserious.[1][2][3]ErysipelasisusuallycausedbythebacteriaStreptococcuspyogenes,alsoknownasgroupAβ-hemolyticstreptococci,throughabreakintheskinsuchasfromscratchesoraninsectbite.Itismoresuperficialthancellulitis,andistypicallymoreraisedanddemarcated.[4]ThetermisfromGreekἐρυσίπελας(erysípelas),meaning"redskin".[5]Inanimals,erysipelasisadiseasecausedbyinfectionwiththebacteriumErysipelothrixrhusiopathiae.ThediseasecausedinanimalsiscalledDiamondSkinDisease,whichoccursespeciallyinpigs.Heartvalvesandskinareaffected.Erysipelothrixrhusiopathiaecanalsoinfecthumans,butinthatcasetheinfectionisknownaserysipeloid.[citationneeded]Contents1Signsandsymptoms2Cause3Diagnosis3.1Differentiatingfromcellulitis4Treatment5Prognosis6Epidemiology6.1PreventativeMeasures7Notablecases8History9Citations10ExternallinksSignsandsymptoms[edit]Symptomsoftenoccursuddenly.Affectedindividualsmaydevelopafever,shivering,chills,fatigue,headaches,vomitingandbegenerallyunwellwithin48hoursoftheinitialinfection.[1][2]Theredplaqueenlargesrapidlyandhasasharplydemarcated,raisededge.[4][6]Itmayappearswollen,feelfirm,warmandtendertotouchandmayhaveaconsistencysimilartoorangepeel.[2]Painmaybeextreme.[6]Moresevereinfectionscanresultinvesicles(poxorinsectbite-likemarks),blister