Erysipelas is a bacterial infection, which occurs in the upper skin layer and lymphatics that is recognizable by the clearly demarcated red patches of the affected skin. Erysipelas is ismilar to cellulitis, which is another skin disorder that ocurs in the lower skin layer with a similar appearance and treatment.
Erysipelas is a infection of the skin and lymphatics in which bacteria enter via small wounds in the skin and lymphatics. Erysipelas often occurs in the face as well as the arms and legs. It presents as a clearly defined strong redness of the skin, which may be slightly raised and warm. Clear or blood-filled blisters can also form on the affected skin, but this is rare. In cases where erysipelas as spread, it can lead to fever and chills.
Erysipelas happens when a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus enters the external barrier of a person's skin. Normally, these bacteria live on the skin without causing any harm but they can penetrate the skin through a sore or a cut and cause an infection. Some conditions such as eczema and athlete’s foot may cause breaks in the skin and lead sometimes to erysipelas. The condition can also happen following an infection in the throat and nose that allows the bacteria to spread to nasal passages. Other causes include insect bites, swollen legs due to diabetes and heart failure, and some skin conditions such as psoriasis, injection of illegal drugs such as heroin, surgical incisions, and ulcers in the skin. Typically, symptoms of erysipelas include swollen glands, blisters on the affected area, a painful, swollen, and red area of skin with an elevated edge, feeling generally unwell, chills and fever. The swollen area includes generally both cheeks and the nose when erysipelas affects a person's face.
Depending on the severity of the condition, the treatment plan can include home treatment and remedies such as keeping the affected area lifted higher than the rest of the body to reduce swelling, drinking plenty of fluids, getting up and walking around often. Some cases of erysipelas may need medications such as antibiotics, painkillers to treat the fever and reduce the discomfort. If erysipelas has progressed fast and causes healthy tissue to die, surgery can be required to remove the dead tissue.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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