| Cellulitis is a potentially serious | | | | , Circulatory problems such as defective |
| bacterial infection of your skin. | | | | blood flow to the limbs, poor venous or |
| Cellulitis can be caused by normal skin | | | | lymphatic drainage, or varicose veins , |
| flora or by exogenous bacteria, and | | | | and liver disease such as chronic |
| often occurs where the skin has | | | | hepatitis or cirrhosis and skin |
| previously been broken. Cellulitis | | | | disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, |
| appears as a swollen, red area of skin | | | | infectious diseases that cause skin |
| that feels hot and tender, and it may | | | | lesions such as chickenpox, or severe |
| spread rapidly. Skin on the face or | | | | acne. Cellulitis can be serious, and |
| lower legs is most commonly affected by | | | | possibly even deadly, so prompt |
| this infection, though cellulitis can | | | | treatment is important. Antibiotics are |
| occur on any part of your body. Group A | | | | given to control infection, and |
| streptococcus and staphylococcus are the | | | | analgesics may be needed to control |
| most common of these bacteria, which are | | | | pain. Good hygiene and good wound care |
| part of the normal flora of the skin but | | | | lower the risk of cellulitis. Changing |
| cause no actual infection until the skin | | | | bandages daily or when they become wet |
| is broken.Cellulitis may be superficial | | | | or dirty will reduce the risk of |
| - affecting only the surface of your | | | | contracting cellulitis. Avoid trauma, |
| skin but cellulitis may also affect the | | | | wear long sleeves and pants. Avoid skin |
| tissues underlying your skin and can | | | | damage by wearing appropriate protective |
| spread to your lymph nodes and | | | | equipment. |
| bloodstream. | | | | Cellulitis Treatment and Prevention Tips |
| Cellulitis may progress to serious | | | | 1. Avoid skin damage by wearing |
| illness by uncontrolled spread | | | | appropriate protective. |
| adjacently or via the lymphatic or | | | | 2. Avoid skin damage by wearing |
| circulatory systems. In the US | | | | appropriate protective equipment. |
| cellulitis is a common infection with an | | | | 3. Keep skin clean and well moisturised, |
| incidence of approximately 2-3 cases per | | | | with nails well tended. |
| 100 people per year. Facial cellulitis | | | | 4. Avoid having blood tests taken from |
| occurs more commonly in adults older | | | | the affected limb. |
| than 50 years and in children aged 6 | | | | 5. Keep swollen limbs elevated during |
| months to 3 years. Cellulitis typically | | | | rest periods to aid lymphatic |
| begins as a small, inflamed area of | | | | circulation. |
| pain, swelling, warmth, and redness on a | | | | 6. Oral antibiotics include penicillin |
| child's skin. As this red area begins to | | | | or a similar medication such as |
| spread, the child may begin to feel sick | | | | dicloxacillin. |
| and develop a fever, sometimes with | | | | 7. Topical antibiotics including |
| chills and sweats. Other symptoms can | | | | mupirocin may be used for children with |
| include fever or chills and headaches. | | | | cellulitis in the area around the anus. |
| In advanced cases of cellulitis, red | | | | 8. Intravenous antibiotics may include |
| streaks (sometimes described as | | | | nafcillin, levofloxacin, or |
| 'fingers') may be seen traveling up the | | | | cephalosporin. |
| affected area. People at risk for | | | | 9. Keeping minor abrasions, cuts and |
| developing cellulitis include those with | | | | bruises clean and free of continued |
| trauma to the skin. | | | | trauma can lessen the likelihood of |
| Other medical problems such as diabetes | | | | cellulitis. |