The task of human skin is to protect internal organs, maintain heat balance, metabolism and prevent the penetration of microbes. However, sometimes the epidermis itself is attacked by pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in dermatological pathologies.
Erysipelas and the reasons for its appearance
Erysipelas - an infectious nature of the disease, manifested by acute inflammation of the skin in a certain part of the body.
The culprit of the infection is group A streptococcus, which penetrates the skin through various types of lesions. Small cuts, abrasions, scratches, scratches, an insect bite can become an open portal for him.
The bacterium itself can be in the skin for a long time, without pretending to be. Often, carriers of a gram-positive microbe do not even suspect that they are at risk of disease. But the inflammatory process begins to develop rapidly as soon as external factors provoke it:
- injuries
- a sharp change in temperature;
- Tan;
- stressful situations;
- nervous breakdown.
In addition to these factors, erysipelas can develop as a result of other diseases:
- obesity;
- alcoholism;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins;
- trophic ulcers;
- thrombophlebitis;
- fungus on the legs;
- chronic somatic diseases that lower the functioning of the immune system.
If this is exactly what caused the erysipelas on the leg, then treatment should begin with these pathologies.
The male sex of working age and women after 40 are most at risk of erysipelas. Especially if the type of employment involves hard physical labor. As well as erysipelas, infants suffer. But for them it is a special danger that can lead to death.
Erysipelas takes the 4th place in the ranking of infectious infections of the body. The first places were distributed between acute respiratory diseases, intestinal infections and viral hepatitis.
Before starting treatment for erysipelas on the leg, it is necessary to correctly determine the symptoms of the disease itself.
Symptoms of erysipelas
The first signs of the disease appear in the form of a cold. Therefore, the patient does not immediately understand what the true cause of poor health is. However, further the condition worsens, appear:
- chills;
- the temperature rises to 39-40 ° C and a headache occurs;
- severe weakness;
- acute muscle pain throughout the body;
- nausea and vomiting;
- at very high temperatures hallucinations, delusions, convulsions, up to loss of consciousness, are possible.
After a day, pronounced local symptoms appear. The affected area is very tight. Itching, swelling, burning, and redness caused by hemolysis in the lower leg. Hence the name of the pathology - erysipelas, as a derivative of the French rouge - that is, "red".
The patient practically loses the ability to move independently, without the help of crutches or loved ones. Every step or movement brings unbearable pain.
When you press a finger on the site of inflammation, redness momentarily disappears. The stain itself is much hotter to the touch than uninfected fabrics. Hyperemic skin has clear uneven borders.
Lymph nodes in the popliteal and inguinal area become inflamed. In their direction, dense lymphatic vessels stand out clearly under the skin, which means the development of lymphangitis.
In no case should you postpone the treatment of erysipelas on the leg.
Forms of erysipelas
According to the nature of local manifestations of the disease, specialists distinguish 6 forms of erysipelas:
- Erythematous. Translated from the Greek "erythema" - red. The skin area acquires a bright red color. Rough borders are clearly defined. Subsequently, peeling of the growth is possible.
- Erythematous bullous. From the Latin bulla - a bubble. Similarly to the first form, the skin turns red. After 2-3 days, the upper layers of the skin exfoliate and a bubble forms with a colorless liquid, which contains a huge number of streptococci. Opening the bladder requires a thorough disinfection. With successful treatment, new skin will appear in this place. Otherwise, erosion occurs.
- Erythematous hemorrhagic. In the erythema region, blood capillaries are affected and hemorrhages of different sizes occur.
- Bullous hemorrhagic. As with the erythematous-bullous form, bubbles form, but they are filled with bloody fluid.
- Gangrenous. Skin patches die off, necrosis sets in.
- Wandering. With this form, the lesion is shifted to the nearest areas. And the initial ones after peeling are regenerated. Basically, this type of erysipelas affects infants. And with the active spread of inflammation, the child may die.
The disease can occur in 3 stages: mild, moderate and severe.
At the first stage, erythema is small in size, and body temperature does not reach 39 ° C. With an average - there are more areas of damage, the temperature keeps at around 39-40 ° C for 4-5 days. In severe form, if treatment for erysipelas on the leg is not started on time, the temperature reaches critical levels. Delirium begins, hallucinations, and symptoms of meningitis appear.
Below is a photo of erysipelas on the leg. Treatment is best done in a hospital.
Consequences of the disease
With erysipelas, timely access to medical services is very important. Since the neglect of the process can result in serious complications:
- ulcers;
- necrosis;
- an abscess;
- disorders in the genitourinary and cardiovascular system;
- lymphostasis (elephantiasis).
- phlegmon.
Diagnostic measures
With such a disease, they turn to a dermatologist and an infectious disease specialist. As a rule, a local examination is sufficient to determine the diagnosis. But sometimes additional tests are prescribed to rule out other similar diseases. This is a blood test. It is taken to detect the presence of immunoglobulins for streptococcus.
Having determined the diagnosis reliably, doctors prescribe the appropriate treatment for erysipelas on the leg.
Treatment
Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment for erysipelas on the leg is prescribed. For mild forms of the procedure, you can perform it on an outpatient basis.
In moderate or severe form, stationary conditions are necessary. Here's what you can do:
- Of course, antibiotics are indispensable here. They are supplemented with vitamins, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory and drugs that increase the efficiency of the immune system.
- Also, with the disease (erysipelas on the leg), treatment is carried out using local procedures in the form of ointments, powders and solutions.
- Cryotherapy and physiotherapy are indicated.
- In severe cases, surgical intervention is necessary.
- Many patients prefer alternative treatment for erysipelas on the leg. Plots and herbs are used.
Like the reasons, the treatment of erysipelas on the leg is very diverse.
Medications
The article presents a photo of erysipelas on the leg. The most effective treatment for the disease is medications.
Antibiotics. To eliminate streptococcus, antibiotics from the group of macrolides, cephalosporin and penicillin series, preparations of the fluoroquinolone and tetracycline group are prescribed. It:
- penicillin;
- erythromycin;
- pefloxacin;
- lincomycin;
- chloramphenicol;
- ampicillin;
- spiramycin and many others.
Vitamins:
Antihistamines:
- Loratadine;
- "Suprastin";
- Diphenhydramine.
Painkillers:
- "Analgin";
- "Baralgin";
- Ibuprofen
- Reopirin et al.
Immunostimulants:
- Tactivin
- Dekaris
- "Immunal" and others.
The most effective treatment for erysipelas on the leg is complex therapy.
Local treatment:
- ointment "Levomekol" or "Baneocin";
- furatsilin solution;
- aerosol "oxycyclozole";
- Enteroseptol powder;
- Dimexidum solution.
However, synthomycin, ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky ointment can not be used categorically. They can provoke an increased inflammatory process, which will lead to an abscess.
Cryotherapy. The main methods are cold treatment.
Physiotherapy. Ultraviolet radiation and ozokerite therapy, laser therapy, electrophoresis.
Surgery. Open abscesses, blisters. Remove dead tissue.
Alternative treatment of erysipelas on the leg
The photo shows the methods of treating this disease with folk methods.
Alternative medicine has always been a success. Many patients still prefer to use alternative medical care methods.
It is difficult to say unequivocally what is the most effective treatment for erysipelas on the leg. There are a lot of recipes. Herbs, conspiracies, improvised means are used. But many argue that treating erysipelas on the leg at home is possible.
Below is a table with the most common recipes for local use.
Components | Cooking method | Number of receptions |
Burdock, sour cream | Finely chop 1 fresh leaf of a plant and mix with sour cream. Apply slurry to affected skin | Do until redness completely subsides |
Sage, chalk | Make powder from dry leaves of grass. Mix (1: 1 ratio) powder and chalk. Apply to erythema and bandage | Up to 2 times per day |
Potatoes | Squeeze juice from fresh tubers. Moisten gauze in it and apply to the skin in the affected area | Apply up to 4 times in 24 hours |
a piece of chalk | Make a powder and apply to the affected area. Cover with a piece of red cloth, preferably woolen. Tie a bandage on top | Perform the procedure once a day |
Plantain honey | 1 tbsp. l crushed sheet mixed with 1 tbsp. l honey. Boil and insist 5 hours. Use as an ointment | Lubricate the lesion 2 times a day |
Dope | 2 tbsp. l boil and insist 30 minutes. Strain and mix the broth with cold water in a ratio of 1: 1. Moisten gauze in a solution and apply to skin | Make lotions up to 3 times a day |
Honey | Soak pieces of silk tissue in honey and attach to the affected area. Fix with a bandage on top | 1 compress for 3 days |
Yarrow | The washed leaves pour boiling water. Then cool and attach to the sore spot. Wrap with a bag or foil and secure with a bandage. When the leaves are dry, replace with new ones. | Do 7 times |
Cottage cheese | Make compresses from fresh cottage cheese. Apply in a thin layer. When dry, change to a new one. | You can apply a compress up to 5 times a day |
Cabbage | Make lotions from fresh juice of cabbage leaves | Do up to 3 times a day |
Butter, Chamomile, Yarrow | Mix the ingredients in 4: 1: 1 proportions. Apply as an ointment to erythema. Helps even in severe bullous stages | Lubricate 3 times in 24 hours |
Raspberries | Fresh raspberry leaves pour boiling water and leave for several hours. Then strain and with moistened napkins or gauze applied to the skin | It can be done until redness is removed |
Treatment of erysipelas on the leg with folk remedies is most often effective at the initial stage of the disease.
In the photo above, the most effective treatment for erysipelas on the leg is a red rag. It is with its help, as many patients claim, grandmas treat this disease.
Orally
- Tincture of Eleutherococcus. Drink 20 drops before breakfast. For a month.
- Hemophilus, licorice, calamus, nettle, yarrow, cinnamon and eucalyptus. Mix, grind the same amount of each raw material. 2 tbsp. l pour the mixture with a glass of boiling water and insist in a thermos for about 3 hours. Take fifty grams three times a day.
- Coltsfoot. 1 tsp raw materials pour a glass of boiling water and insist 3 hours. Take 3 p. per day for 1 tsp.
- Celery, golden mustache, honey. Grind 1 kg of celery using a meat grinder. Then add to this gruel 3 tbsp. l golden mustache and 1 tbsp. l honey. Mix well and insist in a dark room for 2 weeks. Next, 1 tbsp. l take 3 times a day.
- Drink Silver Water from a pharmacy instead of water.
- Drink an infusion of echinacea to enhance immunity.
According to reviews, the use of chalk, potatoes and honey is considered the most effective treatment for erysipelas on the leg.
Food
To make up for the deficient amount of vitamins and other beneficial elements in the body, it is necessary to adhere to a diet containing such products:
- apples
- peaches;
- pears
- apricots
- carrot;
- oranges
- honey;
- new milk.
If there is no fresh fruit, take steamed dried fruit.
It is better to exclude bread, flour dishes, fried, salty at the time of treatment.
Drink plenty of water.
Preventive actions
Adhering to certain rules, the risk of such a disease can be minimized:
- Exercising will boost immunity.
- A good sleep and a healthy diet will improve the general condition of the body.
- Periodically take tests for the presence of streptococcus in the blood.
- Avoid contact with an already infected person.
- Immediate antiseptic treatment of any damage to the skin.
- Perform frequent hygiene procedures, especially on the feet.
- Carefully monitor the functioning of the venous system.
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
- Do not bring yourself to stress.
- Cure chronic diseases.
Expert Advice
During treatment, certain things are strictly prohibited. Therefore, experts advise observing these prohibitions so as not to harm even more sore leg:
- Doing lotions or powders on the affected area, you can not tightly tie bandages or cloth. Bandage should be soft and very weak.
- Each time the dressing needs to be changed, it is necessary to treat damaged skin with an antiseptic. Disinfection is of great importance in infectious diseases.
- It is advisable to provide the patient with complete peace. Even if he is being treated on an outpatient basis, relatives should ensure that no one bothers him. Moreover, it is better to limit communication with the carrier of the infection.
- Do not allow the patient to come into contact with synthetic tissues. Bed and clothes should be of natural quality.
- Change bed linen daily. Wash at the highest temperatures.
- If the treatment is outpatient, it is imperative to comply with the dosage and undergo the full course of treatment for taking medication. Otherwise, relapse is possible with already more dangerous complications.
- To facilitate the method of dressing, it is better to apply ointments to napkins and apply them to a sore spot.
- To be in the shower more often. Wash a sore spot with lukewarm soap and water. Do not rub the skin.
- When peeling the skin will help the juice of the plant Kalanchoe or rosehip oil.
Reviews on the treatment of erysipelas on the leg
The opinions of people who have passed through the test of such a disease vary. Someone claims that it was a grandmother with a rag who helped him. Another says he was cured with antibiotics and compresses in a hospital. Still others write that they got rid of the disease thanks to folk remedies.
Some people have high hopes for conspiracy ailments. But it is worth remembering that this is an infectious disease. And here the consultation of a doctor is important.
The most enthusiastic reviews relate to various methods of treatment with chalk, honey and other herbs. Also, praise and solution furatsilina.
There is an opinion about the help of raw food. According to rumors, it helps to get rid of many chronic diseases. Including from the causative agent of erysipelas in the body.
However, all opinions are similar in that any treatment should be timely. If the disease has passed into a severe stage, it is urgent to seek medical help. Folk remedies in such cases are helpless. And relapse is quite possible.