View source for Skin and soft tissue infections in the returned traveller

== Differential Diagnosis ==

=== Papular Lesions ===

* [[Insect bites]], including [[bed bugs]] and [[fleas]]: often grouped papules
** Flea bites may have hemorrhagic centres
** [[Scabies]] presents as pruritic papular rash, possibly with papules or pustules in a linear pattern, especially in the webbed spaces of the fingers
* [[Onchocerciasis]]: sub-Saharan Africa (rarely Latin America), presenting as generalized pruritic papular dermatitis.

=== Nodular or Subcutanous Lesions ===

* Bacterial skin infections
** [[Cellulitis]], but must consider drug-resistant ''[[Staphylococcus aureus]]''
** [[Pyoderma]], [[impetigo]], [[abscesses]], [[erysipelas]], [[lymphangitis]], and [[ulcerations]]
** Secondary to [[insect bites]] or trauma
* [[Myiasis]] (''[[Cordylobia anthropophaga]]'' in Africa, ''[[Dermatobia hominis]]'' in Americas)
* [[Tungiasis]]: caused by the sand flea (''[[Tunga penetrans]]'')
* [[Loa loa]] filariasis: sub-Saharan African with migratory, transient, painful or pruritic swelling. Rarely, crosses the conjunctiva. Eosinophilia is common.
* [[Gnathostomiasis]]: Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas, from eating undercooked freshwater fish. Causes migratory subcutaneous nodules that are painful or pruritic. Can occur weeks to years after exposure. Eosinophilia is common.

=== Macular Lesions ===

* [[Tinea versicolor]] (''Malassezia furfur'')
* [[Tinea corporis]], or ringworm
* [[Lyme disease]] (''Borrelia burgdorferi''): in North America, Europe, and Russia
* [[Leprosy]]

=== Linear Lesions ===

* [[Cutaneous larva migrans]] (''Ancylostoma'' spp.)
* [[Larva currens]] (''Strongyloides stercoralis''): similar to CLM but moves faster (&quot;running&quot;)
* Lymphocutaneous spread, as in [[sporotrichosis]], ''[[Mycobacterium marinum]]'', [[leishmaniasis]], [[bartonellosis]], ''[[Nocardia]]'', [[tularemia]], [[melioidosis]], and [[blastomycosis]]
* [[Phytophotodermatitis]]: non-infectious reaction between lime juice and sunlight exposure, essentially an exaggerated sunburn in the distribution of the spilled juice. Resolves over weeks to months.

=== Skin Ulcers ===

[[Category:Returned travellers]]