Erysipelas

(er-e-sip’-e-las). Contagious inflammation of the skin, tending to spread. Accompanied by fever and pain in the part affected. It is nece ary for a surgical nurse to keep watch for erysipelas, though in these days of antiseptic dre ings, it seldom appears in a well-managed ward. The symptoms are redne round the edges of the wound, vomiting, rigors, and a rise of temperature—all this must be immediately reported to the surgeon. Great care must be taken to disinfect all articles used for erysipelas patients; the hands must be dipped in carbolic each time after attending to the patient. The period of incubation for erysipelas is from three to seven days; on the second or third day after rigor, a diffuse red rash with swelling appears. Constitutional erysipelas of the head and face is not uncommon. Erysipelas contagion produces puerperal fever in parturient women. — s. 56 —