[Epidemiology, clinical features, and evolution of Erysipelas in the Marrakech region (100 cases)]

We aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical profile, and to study the evolution of this disease in the Marrakech region.

We retrospectively studied all patients with a diagnosis of erysipelas admitted in the Department of Dermatology from 1990 to 2002, in the Marrakech Mohamed VI hospital.

A total of 100 patients were included in the study, 58 male (58%) and 42 female (42%) patients, age range 9-95 years (mean age: 47 years). The lesions were most frequently located on the lower limbs (87% of the cases), with 82 cases occurring in the legs, whereas the face was affected in 10% of the cases. Erysipelas relapsed in 12 patients (12%). All patients had at least one risk factor: portal of entry (80 cases, with 67 cases of toe web intertrigo), obesity (10% of the cases), lymphedema (6% of the cases), diabetes (3% of the cases). The first line treatment was intravenous penicillin G in 76 cases (76%). Satisfactory results were observed in 78% of the cases.

Erysipelas is common in hospital environment. An early penicillin therapy associated to the treatment of the portal of entry leads to satisfactory results.