Orf. Clinical and epidemiological study

Twenty eight human cases of orf were studied from clinical and epidemiological points of view. Most of the patients were shepherds who were inoculated from infected animals during all seasons of the year. Typical lesions of different stages of orf were located on the hands, and were accompanied by local symptoms such as pain, pruritus, lymphangitis and adenitis, or less frequently by systemic symptoms such as fever or malaise. Two cases developed erythema multiforme, one developed erysipelas and another a papulovesicular eruption. Tzanck test may contribute to the diagnosis. The course of the disease can not be influenced by antibiotics, and only measures of local hygiene are recommended, except in complicated cases.