Question

A 79-year-old male presents with a fever. Upon assessment, it is noted that he has a large reddened area on his left calf. It is warm and tender to the touch. Compare and contrast the diagnosis of erysipelas and cellulitis in detail. Explain which is the correct diagnosis? Why?

Answer 1

Both erysipelas and cellulitis are common skin infection and are infected by streptococcus bacteria. in addition, it is infected through the break in the skin.

Symptoms start within a few hours or days after infection. And have same symptoms like fever , Shivering,skin will become sore, swollen, firm, warm, and red, blisters on the affected area. swollen and tender lymph glands near the site. Both are treated with antibiotics .

However, ersipelas affects immediately under the skin and cellulitis affects deep tissues. Also, cellulitis only affects lower extremities but ersipelas ,on legs and face.well defined edges of affected area in ersipelas and I'll defined edges in cellulitis.

Since it is affected in lower extremities ( left calf), it would be cellulitis rather than ersipelas.