Cellulitis is a common but serious bacterial skin infection that affects the skin leaving it feeling inflamed and very warm when touched. Cellulitis is an infection that can affect any part of the body like the face, arms, and legs. Though it does not transmit from person to person but if this skin infection is left untreated it can even spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream and become a life-threatening infection.
Typically, cellulitis affects one side of the body. Below are some warning signs and symptoms of cellulitis.
- Swelling, pain, and tenderness in the affected area
- Irritation on the area that tends to expand
- Fever
- Rapidly growing skin sore or rash
- Spots
- Skin dimpling
- Chills
- Blisters
- Swollen skin
- Chills
- Spots
- Blisters
- Skin dimpling
More serious cellulitis symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle pain
- Warm skin
- Dizziness
- Sweating
Cellulitis is caused when bacteria, most commonly streptococcus, enter through a crack in the skin. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, but the most common known location is the lower leg. Bacteria are most likely to enter the body through broken, dry, flaky, or swollen skin, such as through a
- Cuts
- Puncture wounds
- Ulcers
- Athlete’s foot, or dermatitis
- Bug bites
- Surgical wounds
Cellulitis can most likely be identified by assessing the patients skin. To help rule out other disorders, the doctor might recommend you to have a blood test or other testing.
A physical examination can help identify:
- Swelling of the skin
- Redness and warmth around affected area
- Swollen glands
Your doctor may want to keep an eye on the affected area for a few days to check if the coloring and swelling have spread, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
For the treatment of Cellulitis the healthcare provider will prescribe oral antibiotics. The healthcare expert will assess how the medication is responding. Below are some treatment options for Cellulitis:-
- Prescribe pain relievers
- Antibiotics
- Orion medication
