BACKGROUND Cellulitis (erysipelas) of the leg is a common, painful infection of the skin and underlying tissue. Repeat episodes are frequent, cause significant morbidity and result in high health service costs. OBJECTIVES To assess whether prophylactic antibiotics prescribed after an episode of cellulitis of the leg can prevent further episodes. METHODS Double-blind, randomized controlled t...

We appreciate the Letter to the Editor by Drs. Park and Shin regarding our recentmanuscript describing a case of reversible Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) complicating adalimumab (ADA) therapy. We are thankful for their attention to our work and for the interesting arguments raised for our consideration. In the face of such uncertainty in the pathogenesis of HSP related to anti-TNFα therapy (pa...

BACKGROUND Injection site reactions are well recognized in patients treated with etanercept. Previous reports describe histologic findings of a cell-mediated T(H)1 reaction, with CD8+ T cells composing the majority of the dermal infiltrate. OBSERVATIONS A pruritic, erythematous, edematous patch occurred on the right thigh of a 57-year-old white woman treated for rheumatoid arthritis within 12...

Forty-nine cases of orbital cellulitis were reviewed. The average age of patients at presentation was 31 years. The onset of symptoms varied from seven days or less in 28 patients, one to four weeks in 17 patients, and more than four weeks in four patients. The leucocyte count, available in 33 patients, was greater than 10 X 10(9)/l in only nine. Abnormal sinuses were noted radiographically in ...

We describe a 62-year old man diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum following a traumatic injury to the hand. The patient was originally misdiagnosed with cellulitis and his condition did not improve with oral or intravenous antibiotics. The wound dramatically improved following institution of intravenous steroids. Pyoderma gangrenosum should be considered in the differential of a non-healing cel...

Objectives were to assess and estimate an association between exposure to ground-level ozone and emergency department (ED) visits for cellulitis. All ED visits for cellulitis in Edmonton, Canada, in the period April 1992-March 2002 (N = 69,547) were examined. Case-crossover design was applied to estimate odds ratio (OR, and 95% confidence interval) per one interquartile range (IQR) increase in ...