CELLULITIS

Symptoms

Rednesss

Pain

Swelling

Warm to touch

In severe cases and widespread infection there may be:

Chills and fever

Malaise

Skin sloughing

Hemorrhage

Hypotension

Causes

Damage to skin from insect bite

Excoriation or scratch of skin

Other wounds

It is followed by infection with microbes: Staphylococci, Streptococci, Haemophilus

Diagnosis

• Blood cultures
• Complete blood count with differential
• Levels of creatinine, bicarbonate, CRP
• Imaging studies: USG and CT in severe cases
• Aspiration, dissection and biopsy

Treatment

Antibiotic regimen depending upon culture and sensitivity: Cloxacillin, Amoxicillin, Cephalosporins or Macrolides

In severe cases hospital admission and initial course of parenteral antibiotics is required

If cellulitis is associated with abscess, drainage and surgical debridement may be necessary