Are You Confident of the Diagnosis? Cellulitis is a diffuse acute inflammatory infectious process that involves the dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin. Erysipelas is a specific varient of cellulitis with characteristic features that is generally superficial and caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. The spectrum of cellulitis also includes cellulitis with gangrene or necrosis, and…
Are You Confident of the Diagnosis? Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, severe, life-threatening soft tissue infection that in its early stages may be indistinguishable from less severe skin and soft tissue infections such as cellulitis (Table I), with few clues as to the deeper spread of the infection. The “fascia” referred to in the name…
Fever and Leukocytosis Also known as: Fever: pyrexia, fever of unknown origin, pyrexia of unknown origin Leukocytosis: elevated white blood cell count, granulocytosis, neutrophilia Related Conditions: Fever: hyperthermia, post-operative fever, central fever Leukocytosis: leukemoid reaction, bandemia, extreme leukocytosis 1. Description of the problem What every clinician needs to know Fever and leukocytosis are common findings…
