Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Cellulitis
Cellulitis symptoms may mean that your skin is:
The changes in your skin may be accompanied by a fever. Over time, the area of redness tends to expand. Small red spots may appear on top of the reddened skin, and less commonly, small blisters may form and burst.
Risk Factors for Cellulitis
- Chronic swelling of your arms or legs (lymphedema)
- Chronic fungal infection of your fingers or toes
Advice from your physician
A rash that's red, swollen, tender and warm, and it's expanding- see your doctor the same day
Fever or pain accompanies the rash, or the rash is changing rapidly, seek emergency care
It's important to identify and treat cellulitis early because the condition can cause a serious infection by spreading rapidly throughout your body.
Treatment involves a prescription oral antibiotic for 10 to 14 days.
In most cases, signs and symptoms of cellulitis disappear after a few days.
If they don't, if they're extensive or if you have a high fever, you may need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics through your veins
Written by Healthplus24 team
Date last Modifies: Aug 26, 2011