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Cellulitis
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin caused by bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus and groupA beta-haemolytic streptococcus. These bacteria enter the broken or normal skin and can spread easily to the tissue under the skin. This causes infection and you will need antibiotics to treat the infection.
Cellulitis can affect almost any part of the body. Most commonly, it occurs in areas that have been damaged or inflamed. Anyone, at any age, can develop cellulitis; however, you are at increased risk if you smoke or have diabetes or poor circulation.
Symptoms
The range of symptoms can be mild to severe, and can include:
- Redness of the skin
- Warmth
- Swelling
- Tenderness or pain in an area of skin
- Discharge, such as leaking yellow clear fluid or pus.
The infection can spread to the rest of the body. The lymph nodes may swell and be noticed as a tender lump in the groin and armpit. You may also have fevers, sweats and vomiting.
A range of causes
Cellulitis usually occurs in skin areas that have been damaged or inflamed for other reasons, including:
- Trauma such as an insect bite, burn, abrasion or cut
- A surgical wound
- Skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, scabies or acne
- A foreign object in the skin, such as metal or glass
- Often, it is not possible to find a cause.
Tests may include:
- Swab - a swab is taken from the skin and sent to the laboratory for testing. It can take a few days to get a result and your doctor will be advised of the results.
- Other tests - such as blood tests and x-rays.
Antibiotics are needed to treat the infection. In many cases, a needle is used to inject the drug straight into the bloodstream or muscle. Much larger amounts of the drug can be given in this way. This treatment is given in hospital or, sometimes, at home by a local doctor or nurse.
When the infection improves, you can be switched to antibiotics that can be taken by mouth for a week to 10 days. Most people respond to the antibiotics in two to three days and begin to show improvement. In rare cases, the cellulitis may progress to a serious illness by spreading through the bloodstream. This requires urgent medical treatment in hospital.
Taking care of yourself at home
Suggestions include:
- Get plenty of rest. This gives your body a chance to fight the infection.
- Raise the area of the body involved as high as possible. This will ease the pain, help drainage and reduce swelling.
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol. Please check the label for how much to take and how often. The pain eases once the infection starts getting better.
- Be sure to take the full course of antibiotics.
- You may be advised to make a follow-up appointment with your doctor to make sure the cellulitis is improving. Don’t forget to do this.
Cellulitis is spread by skin-to-skin contact or by touching infected surfaces. Suggestions on how to reduce the risk of transmission in your household include:
- Wash your hands often.
- Bathe or shower daily.
- Cover the wound with a gauze dressing rather than a bandaid.
- Wash your bed linen, towels and clothing separately from those belonging to other family members while the infection is healing.
- Your doctor
- Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that tends to occur in areas that are damaged or inflamed.
- Treatment includes antibiotics.
- Reduce the risk of transmission by washing your hands, covering the wound with a gauze dressing, and washing your bed linen, towels and clothes separately from those belonging to other family members.
Related articles:
Infections - bacterial and viral.
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Article publication date: 19/07/2004
Last reviewed: 31/07/2004
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