ERYSIPELAS Treatment

Erysipelas, called "la rose" in France and still called rose in Scotland, is due to an infection of the skin with hasmolytic streptococci. It will respond to systemic penicillin and sulphonamides given in full doses as for an acute infection. Search should be made for any crack in the skin through which infection could have entered, for example at the angle of the nostril, the junction of the ear with the skin of the scalp or at the outer canthus of the eye. Any such . lesion should be treated with an antibiotic ointment such as neomycin, not only until the crack has healed but for several months afterwards to try to prevent a. recurrence. Repeated attacks of erysipelas are likely to lead to lymphatic; damage with consequent chronic edema of the tissues and, since it is impossible to restore the normal lymphatic drainage, it is important to treat recurrences of erysipelas promptly and vigorously.