Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review

Erysipelas is  an acute, erythematous, rapidly spreading skin infection, usually caused by beta-haemolytic group A Streptococcus bacteria. The disease is usually located on the legs and toes, less frequently on the face. One of the predisposing factors for the development of erysipelas are coexist...

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Main Authors: Anna Martyniuk, Stanisław Górski, Anna Górska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Communications Sp. z o.o. 2015-12-01
Series:Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pimr.pl/index.php/issues/2015-vol-11-no-4/atypical-course-of-erysipelas-and-coexisting-infections-case-study-and-literature-review?aid=914
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author Anna Martyniuk
Stanisław Górski
Anna Górska
author_facet Anna Martyniuk
Stanisław Górski
Anna Górska
author_sort Anna Martyniuk
collection DOAJ
description Erysipelas is  an acute, erythematous, rapidly spreading skin infection, usually caused by beta-haemolytic group A Streptococcus bacteria. The disease is usually located on the legs and toes, less frequently on the face. One of the predisposing factors for the development of erysipelas are coexisting infections. The aim of the work was to attempt to determine whether there was any connection between the atypical course of erysipelas and Helicobacter pylori infection in a 47-year-old female patient. The patient had a history of treatment for chronic otitis media with effusion and recurring abdominal pain. The current disease started abruptly with fever, erythematous skin lesion located on the right cheek and severe pain in the right ear. After a few days, the facial erythema got worse, oedema appeared on the right side of the face and redness, oedema and pain in the auricle could be observed. After examinations by an ENT specialist and a dermatologist, erysipelas of the face, auricle and external auditory meatus was diagnosed. The diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriological examination. As a result of antibiotic therapy skin lesions subsided and the patient’s general condition improved. As the dyspeptic symptoms exacerbated, a diagnostic test was performed and a coexisting Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed. The overall clinical picture and data obtained from medical literature suggest that the coexisting Helicobacter pylori infection could have contributed to both the chronic otitis media with effusion and atypical course of erysipelas. According to medical literature, in the case of patients with dyspeptic symptoms, Helicobacter pylori bacteria can be transferred from the lining of the stomach upwards to the oral cavity, middle ear and paranasal sinuses. Kariya et al. in their review of original work suggested that Helicobacter pylori may contribute to the exacerbation of an existing inflammation in the middle ear, which is a microaerophilic environment required for this bacteria to grow. In conclusion, it seems that constant stimulation of the immune system by Helicobacter pylori could have caused the system to become dysregulated and weakened, which probably accounted for the atypical course of erysipelas in the patient described.
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spelling doaj.art-0f06bd66ba384befb463fea08ac0c4d12022-12-21T20:33:41ZengMedical Communications Sp. z o.o.Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna1734-15312451-07422015-12-0111442442910.15557/PiMR.2015.0041Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature reviewAnna Martyniuk0Stanisław Górski1Anna Górska2Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, PolandDepartment of Medical Didactics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, PolandDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, PolandErysipelas is  an acute, erythematous, rapidly spreading skin infection, usually caused by beta-haemolytic group A Streptococcus bacteria. The disease is usually located on the legs and toes, less frequently on the face. One of the predisposing factors for the development of erysipelas are coexisting infections. The aim of the work was to attempt to determine whether there was any connection between the atypical course of erysipelas and Helicobacter pylori infection in a 47-year-old female patient. The patient had a history of treatment for chronic otitis media with effusion and recurring abdominal pain. The current disease started abruptly with fever, erythematous skin lesion located on the right cheek and severe pain in the right ear. After a few days, the facial erythema got worse, oedema appeared on the right side of the face and redness, oedema and pain in the auricle could be observed. After examinations by an ENT specialist and a dermatologist, erysipelas of the face, auricle and external auditory meatus was diagnosed. The diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriological examination. As a result of antibiotic therapy skin lesions subsided and the patient’s general condition improved. As the dyspeptic symptoms exacerbated, a diagnostic test was performed and a coexisting Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed. The overall clinical picture and data obtained from medical literature suggest that the coexisting Helicobacter pylori infection could have contributed to both the chronic otitis media with effusion and atypical course of erysipelas. According to medical literature, in the case of patients with dyspeptic symptoms, Helicobacter pylori bacteria can be transferred from the lining of the stomach upwards to the oral cavity, middle ear and paranasal sinuses. Kariya et al. in their review of original work suggested that Helicobacter pylori may contribute to the exacerbation of an existing inflammation in the middle ear, which is a microaerophilic environment required for this bacteria to grow. In conclusion, it seems that constant stimulation of the immune system by Helicobacter pylori could have caused the system to become dysregulated and weakened, which probably accounted for the atypical course of erysipelas in the patient described.http://www.pimr.pl/index.php/issues/2015-vol-11-no-4/atypical-course-of-erysipelas-and-coexisting-infections-case-study-and-literature-review?aid=914erysipelasHelicobacter pyloriotitis media with effusion
spellingShingle Anna Martyniuk
Stanisław Górski
Anna Górska
Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna
erysipelas
Helicobacter pylori
otitis media with effusion
title Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
title_full Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
title_fullStr Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
title_full_unstemmed Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
title_short Atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections. Case study and literature review
title_sort atypical course oferysipelas and coexisting infections case study and literature review
topic erysipelas
Helicobacter pylori
otitis media with effusion
url http://www.pimr.pl/index.php/issues/2015-vol-11-no-4/atypical-course-of-erysipelas-and-coexisting-infections-case-study-and-literature-review?aid=914
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AT annagorska atypicalcourseoferysipelasandcoexistinginfectionscasestudyandliteraturereview