Erysipelas is a bacterial disease affecting which tissue?

• A. Skin
• B. Respiratory tract
• C. Nervous system
• D. Digestive tract

Answer: (A)

This question tests where erysipelas actually affects tissue. Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the skin, specifically the superficial layers of the dermis and the superficial lymphatic vessels. It presents as a rapid-onset, well-demarcated, raised red area, often on the face or legs, and is typically caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. Because the infection stays in skin tissues rather than involving the respiratory tract, nervous system, or digestive tract, the skin is the correct tissue. The other options describe infections of different body systems, not where erysipelas occurs.