[Erysipelas in the young population of a military hospital].
BACKGROUND
Erysipelas usually affects either elderly patients or patients with predisposing factors. We studied erysipelas in a young healthy military population.


METHODS
A retrospective study of patients, less than 30 years old, admitted to the Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Robert Picqué between 1991 and 1997 was performed.


RESULTS
Eighty-one patients were studied, 80 were men, mean age was 21.4 years. Localization of erysipelas was: face: 2; leg: 74. Facilitating factors were: portal of entry in 100 p. 100; venous insufficiency in 1 case; alcohol abuse in 1 case. Anti-inflammatory agents had been given at the beginning of treatment in 32.1 p. 100 cases. 7.1 p. 100 patients had a recurrence.. Complications were: abscess in 8 cases and bursitis in 1 case. No facilitating factor was detected. The course was not related with bacterial findings. No thrombo-embolic complication was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In a young healthy population, erysipelas is not a rare infection. Face is an exceptional localization of erysipelas in relation to older population. The main risk factor for developing this infection is local factor found in 100 p. 100 cases but general factors as repeated hikes, care access, long standing could also be incriminated. Use of anti-inflammatory agents is frequent but role of anti-inflammatory agents in developing complications is not clear. Complications are rare and benign except for frequence of recurrences while the good health.
Mahé
E
E
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Robert Picqué, Villenave d'Ornon.
Toussaint
P
P
Lamarque
D
D
Boutchnei
S
S
Guiguen
Y
Y
D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002062:Bursitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010406:Penicillins