Erysipelas: Prognosis

With prompt treatment, the prognosis from erysipelas is excellent. Delay of treatment, however, increases the chance for bacteremia and the potential for death from overwhelming sepsis. This is particularly true of people with weakened immune systems (babies, the elderly, and people ill with other diseases, especially Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS). Frequently, an individual who has had erysipelas will have it occur again in the same location.

— Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD