Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep underlying tissues. Group A strep (streptococcal) bacteria are the most common cause. The bacteria enter your body when you get an injury such as a bruise, burn, surgical cut, or wound.

Symptoms include

Fever and chills
Swollen glands or lymph nodes
A rash with painful, red, tender skin. The skin may blister and scab over.

Your health care provider may take a sample or culture from your skin or do a blood test to identify the bacteria causing infection. Treatment is with antibiotics. They may be oral in mild cases, or intravenous (by IV) for more severe cases.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Symptoms of Cellulitis

The following features are indicative of Cellulitis:

fever
pain or tenderness in the affected area
skin redness or inflammation that gets bigger with the spread of infection
skin sore or rash that starts suddenly, and grows quickly in the first 24 hours
tight, glossy, or stretched appearance of the skin
warm skin in the area of redness
joint stiffness from swelling of the tissue over the joint
hair loss at the injection site
nausea
vomiting

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Common Causes of Cellulitis

The following are the most common causes of Cellulitis:

staphylococcus bacterial infection
streptococcus bacterial infection

Risk Factors for Cellulitis

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Cellulitis:

cracks or peeling skin between the toes
history of peripheral vascular disease
injury or trauma with a break in the skin
insect bites and stings
animal bites
human bites
ulcers from certain diseases
use of corticosteroid medications or medications that suppress the immune system
wound from a recent surgery

Prevention of Cellulitis

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Cellulitis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

wash hands daily with soap and water
apply a protective ointment or cream on wounds
cover wounds with a bandage
inspect feet daily if you are suffering with diabetes
moisturise the skin regularly
carefully trim fingernails and toenails in case of diabetes
wear footwear and gloves to protect hands and feet from any injury

Occurrence of Cellulitis

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Cellulitis cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Cellulitis can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Cellulitis can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Cellulitis

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Cellulitis:

Physical examination: To check redness, swelling, abscess or other skin problems
Blood culture test: To check for bacteria in the blood
Complete blood count: To count total number of blood cells
Biopsy: To diagnose skin diseases or infections

Doctor for Diagnosis of Cellulitis

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Cellulitis:

General Practitioner
Dermatologist

Complications of Cellulitis if untreated

Yes, Cellulitis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Cellulitis is left untreated:

blood infection
bone infection
inflammation of the lymph vessels
inflammation of the heart
meningitis
shock
tissue death

Procedures for Treatment of Cellulitis

The following procedures are used to treat Cellulitis:

Surgery: To treat severe cases of cellulitis

Self-care for Cellulitis

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Cellulitis:

Wash wound daily with soap and water: Help prevent cellulitis and other infections
Apply a protective cream or ointment: Helps providing adequate protection
Cover wound with a bandage: Help prevent cellulitis and other infections

Time for Treatment of Cellulitis

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Cellulitis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: