Delineating the Boundaries of Superficial Lymphangitis: A Retrospective Study of 11 Cases with a Review of Literature

Background: Lymphangitis is an inflammation of lymphatic channels caused by infectious or non-infectious agents, presenting with characteristic linear erythematous streaks draining toward regional lymph nodes. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and etiological factors involved in acute superficial lymphangitis in a retrospective descriptive study. Materials and Methods: Records of patients were analyzed retrospectively who presented with linear erythematous streaks, diagnosed as superficial lymphangitis, in the outpatient department of dermatology during the last 5 years (January 2018-December 2022) in a tertiary care hospital. Patients were evaluated for their demographic profile, detailed history, complete physical examination, and standard blood tests (if necessary). Results: A total of 11 patients were found, out of which 7 (63%) were males and 4 (37%) were females. The mean/median age of these patients was 30 years (range 9-52 years). The minimum duration of development of lymphangitis was within minutes in the case of a mosquito bite reaction and around 72 hours in the case of trauma or infection induced, with a median interval of 48 hours. The site most commonly involved was the upper extremity in 8 (72%) patients, followed by the trunk in 2 (18%) and the lower extremity in 1 (9%). Arthropod bite reactions (63%) were the most common etiological agent. All patients presented with linear erythematous streaks extending towards draining lymph nodes. Conclusion: Lymphangitis is often considered to be a bacterial infection and is mostly treated with antibiotics; however, non-bacterial and non-infectious causes should be kept in mind while treating superficial lymphangitis to make judicious use of systemic antibiotics.