Erysipelas is a problem that anyone can face. This disease has a relapse status and can occur at any age.
World statistics show that the disease is very common and takes fourth place after hepatitis, intestinal, as well as respiratory problems. The trend observed by experts is not at all encouraging: over the past 20 years, the incidence of erysipelas has increased by 25%. As for mortality, the problem under consideration becomes the reason for the death of only 5% of all patients.
To combat the disease in question, medical specialists most often use antibiotics. Let us further consider the list of the most popular and effective of them, as well as recommended dosages.
The main groups of antibiotics
At erysipelas, medical specialists recommend antibiotics for their patients, assigned to four main groups: penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines and chloramphenicol. Medicines assigned to each of them perform certain actions with a protein contained in the body, which in the process of inflammation is aimed at the formation of new bacterial cells.
As for the form of release of drugs, they can be presented in the form of tablets, capsules, as well as solutions for injection.
Penicillins
The most common group of antibiotics used to treat erysipelas is penicillin. Means of this type can be presented both in the form of dragees (tablets), and in the form of injection solutions in capsules.
Drugs containing penicillin, entering the body, begin their interaction with the enzymes that make up the cell membrane, resulting in not only cell destruction, but also the death of the microorganism that causes inflammation. Specialists in the field of medicine, as a rule, prescribe this tool in cases where the cause of the disease is a bacterium that has the property of growth and reproduction. It was experimentally found that treatment with penicillin becomes more effective when used in combination with Streptocide or Furazolidone.
The most commonly used antibiotics for erysipelas are Benzylpenicillin, Bicillin-5, and Phenoxymethylpenicillin. The first version of the drug is presented in the form of solutions for injection, which should be injected into the affected area twice a day, 250,000-500,000 units. The duration of treatment in this way can be up to a month. Bicillin-5 is also presented in the same form. Injections with this composition are done very rarely - once a month, but for a couple of years. The use of this drug is carried out to prevent possible relapses. As for the "Phenoxymethylpenicillin", then this drug is offered to patients both in the form of syrup and tablets. The process of treating erysipelas with this type of antibiotic should be carried out within a week if the disease is at the initial stage, and about 10 days if it has already begun to progress.
Tetracyclines
It should be noted that penicillin antibiotics for erysipelas are a classic drug. All other drugs can be prescribed only if the patient’s body has an individual intolerance to penicillin.
A specific feature of the action of tetracyclines is that these components are aimed at inhibiting the process of protein synthesis, which is required to build new bacterial cells.
The most famous and effective drug containing tetracyclines is Doxycycline. This tool is presented in the form of dragees, which must be taken twice a day after meals, washed down with water.
Chloramphenicol
What antibiotics for erysipelas are used by specialists in the field of medicine to treat the disease? Under the condition of individual penicillin intolerance, such are chloramphenicol, which slow down the increase in the number of streptococci in the human body, acting by a method similar to tetracyclines.
How to treat erysipelas? Levomycetin antibiotics are presented in tablets of the same name. They must be taken three times a day, 250 mg each. The total duration of treatment with this drug is 1-2 weeks, which depends on the extent of inflammation.
Macrolides
As for the features of the actions of the preparations of this series, it consists in the complete suppression of the activity of pathogenic bacteria in the human body, as a result of which it completely subsides, and microorganisms begin to die. However, the second effect is possible only if the doctor prescribes a high dose of the drug.
What antibiotics to take with erysipelas? The most famous drug from the macrolide series is Erythromycin, which is presented in the form of tablets intended for oral administration (1/4 g, 4-5 times a day, an hour before meals).
Most popular drugs
There is a certain list of drugs that are recognized as the most effective in the fight against skin inflammation, called erysipelas. These include Linezolid, Kubitsin and Oletetrin. Let us consider each of them in more detail below.
As for Linezolid, this product belongs to the group of synthetic drugs that have a special mechanism of action, which consists not only in protein synthesis, but also in disruption of the formation of a separate complex, which can later be given to future generations. This antibiotic helps with an erysipelas on the leg, its effectiveness is especially noticeable when the inflammation is quite large. As for dosing, this drug must be taken in an amount of 600 mg at a time, twice a day.
Kubitsin is another new generation drug that, from the very moment of its appearance on the pharmacology market, has attracted the attention of medical specialists involved in the treatment of erysipelas and other types of skin inflammations. This tool has gained its popularity due to the instant bactericidal effect, which is observed already in the first hours after application. The drug in question is available exclusively in the form of solutions that must be injected into the muscle with a needle. The course of treatment with this medicine is no more than a couple of weeks. The daily dose of the drug for an adult individual must be calculated individually - 4 mg of the substance per kilogram of body weight.
With which antibiotics of the erysipelas on the leg is eliminated most quickly? These include Oletetrin, a substance that has a bacteriostatic property. In its composition, it is a mixture of oleandomycin, tetracycline and macrolide - such components are excellent for those individuals who are characterized by individual intolerance to penicillin. The medicine is available in the form of tablets having a different dosage. It is necessary to take the drug 4 times a day, 250 mg each (for an adult).
Despite the wide variety of drugs that help to combat the problem, the antibiotic with which treatment of erysipelas will be most effective should be selected by a specialist in the field of medicine and only after a preliminary examination.
Indications for the use of antibiotics
Which antibiotics for erysipelas can be drunk, and which are not - this should be determined by the attending doctor. To do this, he conducts an examination and examines the patient’s personal medical record, as well as the state of the inflammation itself.
There are certain situations that are direct indicators for the use of antibiotics for erysipelas during treatment. Such cases include: the diagnosis of developed erysipelas, as well as the absence of positive results after treatment with other methods and means.
Combination with other drugs
In order to more effectively deal with the problem that has arisen, almost all medical specialists prescribe a comprehensive treatment to their patients, which is the use of antibiotics in combination with other drugs. As a rule, antiallergic drugs are found among them, of which Tavegil, Diazolin and Suprastin are considered the most popular. The course of treatment with antibiotics in combination with drugs of this type should last about 7-10 days, 1-2 tablets should be taken every day, depending on the general characteristics of the human body. As a rule, during such treatment, the patient undergoes painful swelling, as well as an allergic reaction.
Often, a course of antibiotic treatment is combined with the use of sulfanilamides and nitrofurans. As a result of this combination in the human body, the formation of bacteria that develop swelling will be disrupted.
Often, medical specialists prescribe various biostimulants to their patients - substances that help strengthen immunity. In some cases, glucocorticoids are prescribed to patients - these components, according to many doctors, on the contrary, have a detrimental effect on the immune system of the human body, although they have an excellent anti-allergenic effect. Many experts in the field of medicine consider the optimal solution to the problem a course consisting of antibiotics and multivitamins, which replenish the vitamin supply during a difficult period for the body.
Some treatments include a combination of antibiotic use and injection of thymus and proteolytic enzymes. Such treatment methods activate muscle tissue nutrition and improve the resorption of the infiltrate.
Skin treatment
In the treatment of erysipelas, antibiotics have a positive effect. However, it should be understood that internal treatment of the problem is not enough to get the desired effect as quickly as possible. For this, it is necessary to apply some external influences. The course of treatment for the disease involves the use of some compresses with various solutions that are beneficial to the skin. In particular, this is relevant in the treatment of erysipelas on the leg.
What antibiotics do you need to moisten dressings for compresses? As a rule, for such purposes, the use of aerosol "Oxycyclozole", as well as "Furacilin" and "Microcide" is recommended. Such compresses should be left on the affected areas for 3-4 hours - during this time all bacteria that managed to settle in the upper layers of the skin and on its surface will be destroyed.
Some experts recommend using a 50% solution of Dimexidum, as well as a powder with Enteroseptol. The second tool can be used by sprinkling a small layer on the inside of clean clothes. This technique is perfect for the case when erysipelas is on the leg. Antibiotics in this case are also prescribed - this will accelerate recovery.
Hygiene rules
In the event that a patient has erysipelatous inflammation, a specialist in the field of medicine must definitely recommend that he follow certain rules of personal hygiene, even though the disease is not dangerous to others and the patient can stay at home calmly. However, the practice of observing basic hygiene rules can speed up the process of final recovery.
First of all, to pay attention to the regularity of showering - it is advisable to do this every day. Experts do not recommend using a bath for such purposes, especially with hot water. The place affected by the infection does not need to be rubbed - it is enough to simply wash it with soap. After performing the water procedures, it is advisable to lie down on the bed with clean linen, which is also recommended to be changed every day. Separate requirements are put forward in relation to the material from which bedding is made - it must be natural and soft (preferably cotton).
In addition to taking antibiotics, with erysipelas, daily washing of the inflamed area with herbal decoctions is necessary (it is recommended to take coltsfoot or medicinal chamomile). In the event that erysipelas formed in the genital area or on the face, it is best to use a calendula or a series to create decoctions, and if the inflammation is at the healing stage and is covered with roughnesses, then at this stage it is best to lubricate the affected area with rosehip oil or juice, squeezed out of Kalanchoe.
Disease prevention
In order not to suffer from erysipelas, you should carefully monitor not only your health, but also your lifestyle. Special attention should be paid to water procedures, which should be carried out as often as possible (maximum once a day). This is necessary so that a person can avoid diaper rash in various places that cause the formation of a problem. In the event of such, after taking a shower, the body should be treated with powder.
Special attention should be paid to personal hygiene products. It should be noted that for bathing it is best to use a shower gel with a pH level of less than 7. The same rule applies to soaps. The best option is the one that contains lactic acid. This is necessary in order not to violate the protective layer of the skin, the presence of which prevents the appearance of various infections.
In order to avoid the manifestation of erysipelas and the subsequent treatment of the disease, it is necessary to timely treat wounds and injuries that form on the body. For this purpose, it is best to use camphor oil, "Iodicirin", as well as hydrogen peroxide.