Editing Erysipelas (section)

==Epidemiology==
Currently, no validated recent data have been published on the worldwide incidence of erysipelas.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal|last=Morris|first=Andrew D|date=2 January 2008|title=Cellulitis and erysipelas|journal=BMJ Clinical Evidence|volume=2008|issn=1752-8526|pmc=2907977|pmid=19450336}}</ref> From 2004 to 2005, UK hospitals reported 69,576 cases of cellulitis and 516 cases of erysipelas.<ref name=":14" /> One book stated that several studies have placed the prevalence rate between one and 250 in every 10,000 people.<ref name=":04">{{Cite book|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK303996/|title=Erysipelas and cellulitis: Overview|date=22 February 2018|publisher=Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care|language=en}}</ref> The development of antibiotics, as well as increased sanitation standards, has contributed to the decreased rate of incidence.<ref name=":23">{{Citation|last1=Michael|first1=Youstina|title=Erysipelas|year=2020|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532247/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=30335280|access-date=2020-11-13|last2=Shaukat|first2=Nadia M.}}</ref> Erysipelas caused systemic illness in up to 40% of cases reported by UK hospitals, and 29% of people had recurrent episodes within three years.<ref name=":14" /> Anyone can be infected, although incidence rates are higher in infants and elderly.<ref name=":23" /> Several studies also reported a higher incidence rate in women.<ref name=":23" /> Four out of five cases occur on the legs, although historically, the face was a more frequent site.<ref name="David2019" />

Risk factors for developing the disease include:<ref name=":04" /><ref name=":14" /><ref name=":23" /><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|title=Erysipelas {{!}} DermNet NZ|url=https://dermnetnz.org/topics/erysipelas/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=dermnetnz.org}}</ref>
* Arteriovenous fistula
* Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, athlete's foot, and eczema
* Excising the saphenous vein
* Immune deficiency or compromise, such as
** Diabetes
** Alcoholism
** Obesity
** Human immunodeficiency virus <!-- (HIV) -->
* In newborns, exposure of the umbilical cord and vaccination site injury
* Issues in lymph or blood circulation
* Leg ulcers
* Lymphatic edema
* Lymphatic obstruction
* Lymphoedema
* Nasopharyngeal infection
* Nephrotic syndrome
* Pregnancy
* Previous episode(s) of erysipelas
* Toe web intertrigo
* Traumatic wounds
* Venous insufficiency or disease

=== Preventive measures ===
Individuals can take preventive steps to decrease their risk of catching the disease. Properly cleaning and covering wounds is important for people with an open wound. Effectively treating athlete's foot or eczema if either was the cause of the initial infection decreases the chance of the infection occurring again. People with diabetes should pay attention to maintaining good foot hygiene.<ref name=":04" /> Follow up with doctors is important to make sure the disease has not come back or spread. About one-third of people who have had erysipelas will be infected again within three years.<ref name=":14" /> Rigorous antibiotics may be needed in the case of recurrent bacterial skin infections.<ref name=":04" />