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Fantastic Skin Infection: Do you know how perianal bacterial infection occurs?
Perianal cellulitis, also known as perianal inflammation or perianal streptococcal dermatitis, is a bacterial infection that affects the lower layer of skin around the anus. The disease manifests as obvious redness and swelling of the skin, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as pain, difficulty defecating, itching and bleeding. Because of the deep tissue involvement, this condition is considered a complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI). The most common cause is group A Streptococcus pyogenes, a type of bacteria that normally lives in the human throat and skin. Other less common causes may include group B Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus.
Perianal cell inflammation occurs primarily in male children aged six months to ten years, although cases in adults have also been reported.
Symptoms and signs
The symptoms of perianal cell inflammation are variable and are not usually associated with systemic disease. The most obvious sign is bright red swelling of the skin around the anus, along with other signs of inflammation such as swelling and itching. Other symptoms associated with this condition include pain during bowel movements and bleeding. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, it may lead to more serious complications.
In about 10% of cases, penitis or vulvovaginitis may develop simultaneously.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of perianal cellulitis is usually done with a rapid strep test or by swabbing the affected area for bacterial culture to confirm infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Because this disease is often misdiagnosed, it is critical to have a correct diagnostic algorithm in place to avoid delays in treatment.
The time to diagnosis of perianal streptococcal dermatitis exceeds 3 weeks in 65% of cases.
Pathophysiology
Cause
In most cases of perianal streptococcal dermatitis in children, swab cultures reveal that the infection is caused by streptococci. Group B Streptococcus is the most common cause, although there are some rare cases in adults. Group A strep infections are usually mild for most children.
Treatment
Once confirmed, the most effective treatment option is a combination of oral and topical antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are the treatment of choice for perianal streptococcal dermatitis, and treatment usually lasts 14 to 21 days.
Treatment options include penicillin V, amoxicillin, and others.
Prevention and recurrence
Although there is not much data on the prevention of perianal cell inflammation, long-term low-dose oral penicillin has been proven to reduce the chance of recurrence. Keeping the treated area dry and using antifungal ointments can effectively prevent recurrence.
Epidemiology
The incidence of perianal streptococcal dermatitis in the pediatric population is not well established because of the difficulty in recognizing the disease by clinicians. Most cases occur in young children, especially males, between six months and ten years old.
Conclusion
Perianal cell inflammation is a skin infection that requires attention and may lead to more serious complications if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Maintaining good personal hygiene to reduce the risk of infection is vital for both children and adults. In this case, are you ready to learn how to effectively prevent this disease from happening?
