What is Cellulitis?
It is a bacterial infection of the skin and tissues beneath the skin (dermis and subcutaneous layers) caused usually by staphylococcus and streptococcus although there can be other bacteria involved. This can occur anywhere in the body but is commonly in the legs.
It is more commonly found in middle aged and elderly people
What are the Symptoms?
Usually the symptoms include redness, pain and tenderness, swelling, and warmth of the affected area.
The red patch will then tend to expand. The patient may then develop a high fever It is not contagious even if someone else touches the skin.
Many cases of cellulitis develop in the area of a break in the skin such as a scratch or cut, insect bite or it may appear near ulcers or surgical wounds.
Sometimes it occurs when there is no cut but the patient has chronic swelling of the leg.
There is a higher incidence in developing cellulitis if there is a skin infection or in people with poor circulation or poor immune systems following chemotherapy.
What is the treatment?
It is important to get prompt treatment as the infection can spread into the blood stream and to other parts of the body.
The treatment is a course of antibiotics. Often in the first instance via a drip in hospital but after 24-48 hours the patient can normally leave hospital and continue with oral antibiotics.
