Cellulitis is primarily an infection caused by the bacteria. It can cause damage to the connective tissue beneath the skin, and in more unusual cases spread to the lymph nodes. Bacteria can get easily enter the skin through cuts, laceration or scrapes. This disease usually affects the legs, but at times may also affect the face, scalp and arms. The easy way to stop is by taking antibiotics. However, in some cases, the cellulitis may lead to unforeseen complications. At times, it may also be life-threatening.
There are various bacteria that are responsible for this disease. Staphylococcus and the Streptococcus and other smaller forms of bacteria such as haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus and the clostridium are also responsible for causing cellulitis infection. At times, abrasion present in the skin may also cause an infection. Sometimes it does not even require an injured site. It may develop over a smooth patch of skin that had been the site of a previous infection such as athlete's foot or eczema. Or, if there are tattooing, skin rashes, insect or animal bites. AIDS, radiation and diabetes are also known to have caused this disease.
The other bacterium which is responsible for the spread of cellulitis infection is staphylococcus aureus bacteria, also known as staph. Once the bacteria or the pathogen enters, it makes its way deeper into lymph nodes and the blood stream and makes its way throughout the body. This can lead to sweating, bouts of cold and cough, high fever and so on. There are numerous risk factors for this disease such as injury or trauma with a break in skin surface, cracks or peeling skin between toes, insect bites or stings, ulcers from diabetes, or blockage in blood.
Symptoms of cellulitis infection are manifold. Some of them are pain or tenderness in the area with sores or rash. The signs of infection include fatigue, general ill feeling, chills, shaking, warm skin sweating, muscle pain. The skin sore or the rash grows quickly within 24 hours, comes on suddenly and usually has sharp borders. There are other signs such as hair loss at the site of the infection, nausea and vomiting and joint swiftness which is caused by swelling over the joint. The area that is affected looks red and has warmth over the redness and has tight, glossy and stretched appearance of the skin.
How does one diagnose this disease appropriately? During the recommended physical examination the doctor may find swelling and drainage if the infection is around a skin wound, swollen glands and redness warmth and there may be swelling. The tests that are used are a complete blood count also known as CBC and blood culture.
The disease may not be serious, but the person may require a hospital stay if one is very sick such as persistent high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting and very high temperature. It is brought under control with close follow up and oral antibiotics. The treatment focuses on preventing complications and controlling the infection.
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