In the hospital, you may get antibiotics and fluids through an intravenous IV catheter. If skin breaks happen, keep the area clean and use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. Watch for signs of infection. If you have diabetes, visually check your feet for signs of skin breaks or infection. Health Home Conditions and Diseases.
Cellulitis is a deep infection of the skin caused by bacteria. It usually affects the arms and legs. It can also develop around the eyes, mouth, and anus, or on the belly. Normal skin can be affected by cellulitis, but it usually happens after some type of injury causes a skin break, including trauma or surgery. Once the skin breaks, bacteria can enter and cause infection. What causes cellulitis? What are the symptoms of cellulitis? Each person may experience symptoms differently.
Common symptoms include: Redness of the skin Swelling of the skin Tenderness Warm skin Pain Bruising Blisters Fever Headache Chills Weakness Red streaks from the original site of the cellulitis Some cases of cellulitis are an emergency. Always talk with your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms: A very large area of red, inflamed skin Fever If the area affected is causing numbness, tingling, or other changes in a hand, arm, leg, or foot If the skin appears black If the area that is red and swollen is around your eye s or behind the ear s If you have diabetes or have a weakened immune system and develop cellulitis The symptoms of cellulitis may look like other skin conditions.
How is cellulitis diagnosed? Diagnosis is usually based on a medical history and physical exam. Blood and skin samples may be taken to confirm the diagnosis and the type of bacteria that is present.
A bacterial culture can identify the organism causing the condition and indicate the most effective antibiotic.
How is cellulitis treated? Getting treated right away can help prevent the spread of cellulitis. You should see a doctor right away. A stronger course of treatment may be needed to eliminate the infection.
If you have cellulitis, are on antibiotics, and see symptoms worsening, you should also see a doctor. If you do not see improvement in your infection or symptoms persist 3 days after you begin treatment for cellulitis, you should also return to your doctor for a checkup.
This could be a sign you need a different treatment plan in order to prevent possible complications. There are steps you can take to help prevent bacteria from setting up shop in your skin and causing cellulitis. Accidents may not be avoidable. But taking extra precautions to avoid scrapes and cuts during work or recreation can reduce the opportunity for bacteria to enter the skin. Dry, cracked skin is an entry point for problematic bacteria.
Hands and feet are especially vulnerable. Moisturizing your skin can help you protect yourself. Wash your hands regularly to avoid spreading bacteria, too. Wash any cuts, scrapes, bug bites, or stings with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic ointment over the area, and cover with a bandage to guard against bacteria. Change the bandage daily to keep it clean and prevent an infection. People with conditions like diabetes, cancer, and vascular disease may have a weakened immune system.
This can make you more susceptible to infection. If you manage those conditions, you may be more capable of handling secondary issues, such as cellulitis, when they occur. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection in the skin.
However, if the infection is not treated or the medicine is not effective, complications or side effects are likely to crop up. These complications can be severe. Some may even be life threatening or fatal. Treatment should begin right away to avoid possible complications. New treatments may be necessary to fully eliminate the infection.
Once the cellulitis is handled properly, the infection rarely causes any long-term or lasting problems. Erysipelas is a bacterial infection in the upper layer of the skin, unlike cellulitis, which is an infection in the lower layers of the skin. Gangrene is when part of your body tissue dies. Though it usually affects your extremities, like your toes and fingers, it can also affect your…. This condition is contagious and can spread to the…. Lymphatic dysfunction is a poorly working lymphatic system.
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They're tried and true. This can be very serious and potentially life threatening. Cellulitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. It occurs when bacteria get into the tissues beneath the skin.
The bacteria that cause cellulitis often live harmlessly on the skin. But if the surface of your skin is damaged, they can get into the layers underneath and cause an infection.
Cellulitis isn't normally spread from person to person as the infection occurs deep within the skin and is often caused by bacteria that live on the skin's surface without causing problems. Ensuring the underlying health conditions mentioned above are well controlled may help reduce your risk of getting cellulitis. Cellulitis can often be treated at home with a course of antibiotics, although severe cases may need to be treated in hospital. If you're treated at home, you'll usually be prescribed antibiotic tablets to take two to four times a day for a week.
A longer course may be needed if your symptoms don't improve after a week or you have an underlying condition that makes cellulitis more difficult to treat, such as lymphoedema. Commonly prescribed antibiotics include flucloxacillin and clarithromycin. Possible side effects can include an upset stomach or diarrhoea. Your symptoms may get worse in the first 48 hours after treatment starts, but should start to improve soon afterwards. While you're recovering at home, the following steps can help ease your symptoms and aid your recovery:.
If you need to be admitted to hospital for treatment, you'll be given antibiotics directly into a vein through an injection or a drip intravenous antibiotics. Once you've recovered from the initial symptoms, you can usually be treated with antibiotic injections or tablets at home or as an outpatient, rather than staying in hospital.
Home Illnesses and conditions Skin, hair and nails Cellulitis. Cellulitis See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About cellulitis 2. Symptoms of cellulitis 3. Causes of cellulitis 4. Treating cellulitis. About cellulitis Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue.
Symptoms of cellulitis Cellulitis causes an area of skin to suddenly become: red hot swollen painful tender It most often affects the lower legs, but can occur anywhere. In more severe cases, cellulitis can also be accompanied — and often preceded — by: a high temperature fever of 38C When to get professional advice.
Non-urgent advice: Speak to a pharmacist. Pharmacy First Scotland: Cellulitis treatment from your local pharmacy Adults 18 years and over with symptoms of cellulitis can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy in certain instances. Early treatment can help reduce the risk of the infection becoming severe.
Outlook for cellulitis Cellulitis can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics, and most people make a full recovery.
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