Skin infections

Abstract

A huge number of infections affect the skin either directly, as the primary site of infection, or indirectly, by virtue of causing an exanthem or other secondary eruption, such as erythema multiforme or vasculitis. Space does not permit significant discussion of such indirect associations so most of this review concentrates on direct skin infection and is highly selective. The emphasis is on disorders that are common but that may have significant health implications, and on some rarer but readily diagnosable disorders. Thus, the topics chosen for review are streptococcal cellulitis of the leg, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, herpes simplex and varicella zoster infections, and a potpourri of tropical skin infections that may present in returning travellers.