This study concerns Erysipelas disease in Brazil and is also a warning regarding the importance of preventing its recurrence, which may lead to a clinical picture of elephantiasis and consequent impairment in the domestic, social and professional life of the patient. A retrospective analysis was performed of 284 cases of erysipelas in the period from 1995 to 1996, considering the following features: sex, age, related mapping of the injured tissue, systemic and local predisposition, means of infection, medical treatment, concurrent disease and eventual need for hospitalization. The results showed that males and obese individuals are the most likely to be affected by the disease and especially those from 60 to 70 years old. The inferior members were the most affected by the disease. Skin lesions due to tinea pedis were the main entry site of the bacterial agent. Hospitalization was necessary when the patient presented necrotic lesions. Penicillin G benzathine and crystalline penicillin were the medicines of choice and side effects were not observed in the majority of cases.
Erysipelas; Streptococcus
