Hospitals throughout Europe and America consistently reported death rates between 20% to 25% of all women giving birth, punctuated by intermittent epidemics with up to 100% fatalities of women giving birth in childbirth wards.In the 1800s Ignaz Semmelweis noticed that women giving birth at home had a much lower incidence of childbed fever than those giving birth in the doctors maternity ward. His investigation discovered that washing hands with an antiseptic, in this case a calcium hypochlorite solution, before a delivery reduced childbed fever fatalities by 90%. Publication of his findings was not well received by the medical profession. The idea conflicted both with the existing medical concepts and with the image doctors had of themselves. The scorn and ridicule of doctors was so extreme that Semmelweis moved from Vienna and, following a breakdown, was eventually committed to a mental asylum, where he died.Semmelweis was not the only doctor ignored after sounding a warning about this issue: in Treatise on the Epidemic of Puerperal Fever (1795), ex-naval surgeon and Aberdonian obstetrician Alexander Gordon (1752–1799) warned that the disease was transmitted from one case to another by midwives and doctors. Gordon wrote, "It is a disagreeable declaration for me to mention, that I myself was the means of carrying the infection to a great number of women. "Thomas Watson (1792–1882), Professor of Medicine at Kings College Hospital, London, wrote in 1842: "Wherever puerperal fever is rife, or when a practitioner has attended any one instance of it, he should use most diligent ablution."
Eosinophilic cellulitis, also known as Wells syndrome (not to be confused with Weils disease), is a skin disease that presents with painful, red, raised, and warm patches of skin. The rash comes on suddenly, lasts for a few weeks, and often repeatedly comes back. Scar formation does not typically occur.Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. It may be triggered by bites from insects such as spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. Diagnosis is made after other potential cases are ruled out. Skin biopsy of the affected areas may show an increased number of eosinophils. Other conditions that may appear similar include cellulitis, contact dermatitis, and severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.Treatment is often with a corticosteroids. Steroids applied as a cream is generally recommended over the use of steroids by mouth. Antihistamines may be used to help with itchiness. Many times the condition goes away after a few weeks without treatment. The condition is uncommon. It affects both sexes with the same frequency. It was first described by George Crichton Wells in 1971. Cause
Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. It may be triggered by bites from insects such as mosquitos, spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires ruling out other potential causes. This includes ruling out vasculitis on skin biopsy. Treatment
Treatment is often with a steroids. This can be either applied as a cream or taken by mouth.