It refers to an acute cutaneous and subcutaneous inflammation caused by hemolytic streptococcus and is often secondary to traumatic injury, lesion and infective focus of the skin and mucous membrane. It is believed in Chinese medicine that its occurring on the head and face is often related to pathogenic wind, heat and fire and that happening in the lower part of the body is usually related to accumulation of dampness and heat. Before lesion of the local skin appears.

There are often such symptoms as aversion to cold, fever, headache, lassitude and poor appetite, and progressive edema with fresh red skin and clear margin. If it occurs in the loose parts of eyelid, lips and ear lobes, swelling in red color is more obvious, with burning pain. It can be accompanied by local lymphadenectasis. The total count of peripheral leukocyte and neutrophil ratio are obviously enhanced. It often occurs on the face, calf, forearm, hand and foot, which occurs on the head and face is called "Head erysipelas" and which occurs in the lower limb is called "leg erysipelas" in Chinese medicine.