About Cellulitis

Overview

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissues directly under it. The illness can be mild or severe, with some patients only feeling a little unwell and others becoming extremely sick. The infection appears as reddened warm skin most likely on the arms or legs but it can appear in other areas as well. Left untreated, the infection left untreated can spread quickly and become progressively more serious. The bacteria generally invade through a small break in the skin which may come from a sore or even a mild scrape.

Causes

Cellulitis is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacterium responsible is usually either streptococcus or staphylococcus but others can cause it as well. A small break in the skin can provide the entranceway for the bacterium. Sometimes the infection can arise as a complication of another skin condition.

Risk Factors

Those who have venous conditions such as leg ulcers, lymphedema or gravitational eczema are at a greater risk than others for developing cellulitis. Alcoholics, obese persons, pregnant women and those who have had the condition before are more likely to experience cellulitis. Obviously, those who have a wound of trauma to the body, including such issues as athlete's foot, jelly fish stings or insect bites, are susceptible to cellulitis.

Symptoms

The primary signs of cellulitis are red, warm, tender, sometimes itchy skin in a particular area. The affected are may grow with time as the infection progresses. Many people have no other symptoms but some may experience more serious issues such as fever, chills, nausea and confusion. Persons who have the more serious symptoms may need to be hospitalized.

Treatment

Doctors generally diagnose cellulitis by observing the symptoms. A physician may mark the area of infection to monitor it for spreading. Antibiotics are given to treat cellulitis. These drugs halt the infection and stop it from spreading further where it can infect the blood and bodily organs. Physicians should rule out the possibility of blood clot (especially if the leg is the affected body part) as deep vein thrombosis presents similarly to cellulitis.

Recurring Infections

Once a person has experienced cellulitis he is likely to suffer from it again. Some people suffer from many re-occurrences. To help reduce the risk of subsequent infections you should guard against trauma to the limps (for example, wear long sleeves and pants when engaging in outdoor activities), treat wounds immediately by cleaning them and applying antibiotic cream, maintain clean and moistened skin and elevate swollen legs to increase lymphatic circulation. Those who experience cellulitis frequently may need to be placed on suppressive antibiotics for whatever period a physician deems necessary.