Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep tissue thats most commonly caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.
Cellulitis appears as a red, swollen skin rash (usually on the lower legs or arms) that feels tender and hot. It can spread rapidly over the course of 24 hours.
The symptoms of cellulitis include:
If the area is infected, you may also experience:
Bacteria, including staphylococcus and streptococcus, can cause cellulitis to enter your body through cracks or tears in the skin. You may be at greater risk for cellulitis if:
Your doctor will check the area of the rash to see if your symptoms are consistent with cellulitis. He or she may mark the area of the rash with a marker to track its spread.
Blood tests may also be ordered to rule out the possibility of a blood clot, as a clot and cellulitis can have similar symptoms.
Cellulitis is normally treated with a 10- to 14-day course of prescription oral antibiotics to treat both staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.
Youll also need to keep the affected area elevated higher than your heart to help reduce swelling.
The symptoms of cellulitis generally improve greatly or disappear after a few days of treatment; however, its important to continue taking your antibiotics for the full course so that the bacteria are completely killed.
If your symptoms dont improve, worsen, or if you are running a high fever, call your doctor, because you need to receive antibiotics intravenously.
Prompt treatment of cellulitis is important to prevent more serious complications. If the bacteria infect deeper layers of skin, it may enter your bloodstream or lymph nodes, making it more challenging to treat.
Repeat cases of cellulitis may damage your lymphatic drainage system and lead to chronic swelling of the affected limb.
In rare cases, cellulitis may spread to deeper layers of soft tissue and result in necrotizing fasciitis.
If you contract necrotizing fasciitis, you will need to receive antibiotics intravenously and in advanced cases may need to have dead tissue surgically removed.
To prevent cellulitis, its important to take proper care of your scrapes and cuts. Always wash your wound with soap and warm water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover with a bandage to prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream.
If you have diabetes or another condition that causes you to have poor circulation, its important to apply a moisturizing lotion daily to keep skin lubricated and healthy.
You should also inspect your feet regularly for any cracks or tears; treat athletes foot promptly; and regularly trim your nails to prevent scratches.
Sources:
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. The infection is not contagious.
Bacteria live on everyones skin, so when there is a tear, cut, or abrasion, bacteria can enter the deeper layers of the skin and cause an infection.
The abrasion could be so minor you dont even see it, for example, a bug bite, a small nick from shaving, or from a chronic skin condition such as eczema.
Cellulitis may also occur in those with diabetes or who are taking medication that suppresses the immune system.
You are at greater risk for cellulitis if you:
Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as staph, is a bacterium that lives on the skin or in the nasal lining of up to 30 percent of the population.
Staph can lead to cellulitis, other skin infections, and more serious illnesses that involve the lungs, kidneys, brain and even heart valves.
In healthy individuals, staph generally does not cause any problems, unless you have a skin injury, sometimes even a minor one.
People with a weakened immune system are at a greater risk for staph-related infections.
Perianal streptococcal cellulitis is caused by streptococcusbacteria and results in an inflammation of the anus and rectum.
Its most common in children; the skin around the anus gets infected when a child scratches the area with his or her hands that have bacteria from their mouth or nose, or while cleaning after going to the bathroom. It often occurs with strep throat, nasopharyngitis, or impetigo.
Orbital cellulitis is often caused by bacteria that enter the eye through direct trauma or a sinus infection. Its most common in children.
Symptoms of orbital cellulitis may include pain, swelling, discoloration of the eyelids, poor vision, difficulty moving the eye, and fever.
Although rare in otherwise healthy individuals, cellulitis can spread to deeper layers of soft tissue, called the fascial lining. This is called necrotizing fasciitis.
Its most often caused by A Streptococcus (group A strep), though other bacteria, including staph, can cause the infection.
Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include severe pain, swelling, redness of the infected area, black spots, blisters, or ulcers. High fever and signs of systemic inflammation are often present.
Necrotizing fasciitis erroneously referred to as flesh-eating bacteria can be a rapidly progressing and sometimes fatal infection. It requires prompt medical attention, generally including the use of antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue.
Sources:
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep tissue caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.
It appears as a red, swollen patch of skin (usually on your arm or lower legs) that feels hot, tender, and sometimes painful.
In most cases, oral antibiotics effectively treat the infection within 10 to 14 days.
Your doctor will examine the affected area to determine if your symptoms are consistent with cellulitis. He or she may also examine your lymph nodes to check for signs of infection and test any fluid that has accumulated at the site of the rash.
Other tests may include blood tests to rule out blood clots, which may have similar symptoms, and a complete blood count (CBC) to check for an elevated white blood cell count, which indicates infection.
Your doctor may also circle the affected area with a pen to determine the extent of infection and see if it spreads over the course of a day or more.
Cellulitis is treated with a 10- to 14-day course of oral antibiotics that are effective against both staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.
Your symptoms should begin to clear after about three days; however, its important to take the full course of antibiotics because the bacteria may still be living even after youre feeling better.
If your pain is intense, your doctor may also prescribe a pain medication or recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever. Elevating the affected area above your heart will also help reduce pain and swelling.
In rare cases, your cellulitis may not respond to treatment with oral antibiotics and you may need to be admitted to a hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics.
This scenario is most likely to occur if you have a chronic illness or an impaired immune system.
When cellulitis spreads to deeper layers of soft tissue, called the fascial lining, you may develop necrotizing fasciitis (sometimes erroneously referred to as flesh-eating bacteria).
Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include severe pain, swelling, and redness of the infected area as well as black spots, blisters, or ulcers. The condition is often accompanied by a fever, high white blood cell count and signs of systemic inflammation (such as high heart rate and respiratory rate).
Most common among people with compromised immune systems, the condition is rare in otherwise healthy individuals.
If you are diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, its important to begin treatment immediately; you will need to be admitted to the hospital to receive antibiotics intravenously.
If any tissue has begun to decay, it will need to be removed surgically as antibiotics have poor penetration of tissue with impaired blood flow that is starting to die (i.e., necrose).
To prevent cellulitis:
Whenever you have a cut or bug bite:
Sources:
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
We respect your privacy and aim for the best website experience in compliance with local laws. Allowing cookies enables a tailored experience, while disabling them may reduce personalization. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.