- Related Topics:
- infectious disease
- skin disease
- MRSA
- streptococcus
- staphylococcus
cellulitis
-
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that is typically caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus strains that enter the body through a superficial skin wound. It is not usually contagious, though it can be spread through skin-to-skin contact with an open wound.
Symptoms include redness, swelling, blistering, spotting, bruising, or a bumpy texture on the skin, usually on one side of the body. These symptoms may be accompanied by pain, tenderness, and warmth. The infection may also cause fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or weakness.
Cellulitis is diagnosed through physical examination, blood culture evaluation, and a complete blood count. Treatment includes antibiotics and, in some cases, pain medication. If left untreated, cellulitis can lead to serious complications, including endocarditis, osteomyelitis, or sepsis.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are the main signs and symptoms of cellulitis?
The primary symptom of cellulitis is a change in skin appearance, such as redness, swelling, blisters, spotting, bruising, discoloration, or a bumpy texture. The skin may also appear tight or glossy. These symptoms can be accompanied by pain, tenderness, and warmth. Generally, only one side of the body is affected. Other signs include fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or weakness. Because cellulitis causes swelling, walking or moving affected body parts may be difficult. Muscle aches and joint stiffness can occur, and the lymph nodes near the affected area may be swollen.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How does someone get cellulitis?
Cellulitis arises from bacteria entering a skin wound, often through strains of Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. While it commonly affects the lower extremities, it can occur anywhere on the body where the skin is broken.
Several factors elevate the risk of cellulitis, including weakened immune systems, obesity, diabetes, and vascular disease. Skin conditions like athlete’s foot, eczema, shingles, and breaks in the skin from scrapes, burns, or bites also increase the risk.
Prevention involves hygiene and proper wound care. Treatment includes antibiotics, with severe cases requiring intravenous administration. Untreated cellulitis can lead to serious complications, including bone and joint infections, toxic shock syndrome, or sepsis.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which parts of the body are most often affected by cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that can occur anywhere on the body where the skin is broken, but it commonly affects the lower extremities. Cellulitis symptoms include redness, swelling, blistering, bruising, or bumpy skin. Cellulitis requires immediate medical attention, and treatment includes antibiotics. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes, leading to a potentially life-threatening situation.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How is cellulitis usually treated by doctors?
Cellulitis treatment typically involves antibiotic therapy, usually a combination of oral and topical antibiotics. Doctors may perform a skin test and bacterial culture to identify the bacterial type to inform treatment decisions. More serious cases may require intravenous antibiotics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help manage pain. Cellulitis typically resolves within 7 to 10 days with treatment, but without it, severe cases can lead to amputation.
To prevent cellulitis, proper wound cleaning and care are essential. Antibiotic ointments or creams can protect wounds. For individuals with a history of cellulitis and a high risk of wounds, doctors may prescribe low-dose, long-term preventive antibiotics. Untreated cellulitis can lead to serious complications, including endocarditis and sepsis.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are possible complications if cellulitis is left untreated?
If left untreated, cellulitis can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. These include endocarditis (inflammation of the heart), osteomyelitis (bone infection), and septic arthritis (joint infection). Other complications are thrombophlebitis, inflammation of lymph vessels, meningitis, gangrene, toxic shock syndrome, or sepsis. In severe cases, it can spread to the fascia, causing necrotizing fasciitis, which requires immediate medical attention. In severe cases of untreated cellulitis, amputation may be required.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
cellulitis, bacterial infection of the skin. Cellulitis can be caused by any bacteria that enters a superficial skin wound, but often they are strains of Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. The condition commonly affects the lower extremities but can occur anyplace on the body where the skin has broken. If left untreated, infection can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes, leading to a potentially life-threatening situation. The possibility for cellulitis to become a severe condition escalated following the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. Cellulitis is not usually contagious, although skin-to-skin open-wound contact could spread infection.
Risk factors
Several risk factors have been identified that increase the likelihood of developing cellulitis. Persons with weakened immune systems, including as a result of immunosuppression from corticosteroids or other medications, are at increased risk. Excess weight, diabetes mellitus, and a history of peripheral vascular disease are also risk factors. Skin conditions that increase risk include athlete’s foot, eczema, psoriasis, impetigo, herpes zoster (shingles), and chickenpox. Breaks in the skin from other causes also increase risk, including scrapes, burns, ulcers, surgical incisions, tattoos, piercings, injections, and insect, spider, or other animal bites. People with chronic swelling of limbs or a previous cellulitis diagnosis are also at increased risk. Cellulitis recurs in about one-third of patients.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of cellulitis is a change in skin appearance. This can include erythema (redness), edema (swelling), blistering, spotting, bruising, discoloration, or a bumpy texture. Skin may also look tight or glossy. These symptoms may be accompanied by pain, tenderness, and warmth. Usually only the skin on one side of the body is affected. The infection may also cause fever and be accompanied by chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or weakness. Because cellulitis causes swelling, it may be difficult to walk or to move affected body parts. Muscle aches and joint stiffness may also occur, and the lymph nodes near the affected region may be swollen.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
The diagnosis of cellulitis is based largely on physical examination but may also involve evaluation of a blood culture and a complete blood count to check for infection. A skin test and bacterial culture may also be performed to identify bacterial type, which can inform treatment decisions. Immediate medical attention is required for spreading skin redness, especially in the presence of swelling, tenderness, and fever. Treatment consists primarily of antibiotic therapy, which typically includes an oral antibiotic and sometimes a topical antibiotic for the wound. In more serious cases, an antibiotic may be given intravenously. Pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may help relieve symptoms. With treatment, cellulitis typically resolves after 7 to 10 days. If left untreated, severe cases of cellulitis may result in amputation.
Cellulitis can be prevented through hygiene, including immediate and proper cleaning and care of wounds. An antibiotic ointment or cream may be used to protect wounds. Patients who have previously experienced cellulitis and are at high risk of wounds may be prescribed low-dose long-term preventive antibiotics.
Complications
Complications of cellulitis are uncommon but can be life-threatening. Untreated cellulitis can lead to endocarditis (inflammation of the heart), osteomyelitis (bone infection), suppurative or septic arthritis (joint infection), thrombophlebitis (swelling of the veins), lymphangitis (inflammation of lymph vessels), meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), gangrene, toxic shock syndrome, or sepsis. In severe cases, the infection can spread to the fascia, causing necrotizing fasciitis, which requires urgent medical attention.