Know the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options for Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a disease that results from bacterial invasion into the skin, developing rapidly and becoming dangerous if the disease is not treated at the right time. These infections are marked by swelling, redness, pain, and tenderness, along with fever and chills. It is essential to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for managing cellulitis in time. This blog entails information regarding cellulitis symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is defined as a superficial bacterial infection that, when neglected, may escalate to a more severe form. In some cases, it can even lead to complications that are potential threats to one’s life. The most common area affected is the lower legs; however, infection can also occur in the face, upper arms, and other regions. It is an infection that should be treated promptly, especially because it can extend beyond the skin surface and involve the lymphatic system and even the circulatory system.

However, those who have superficial abrasions or cuts, a predisposition to infections, or immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to this. Such cellulitis can make it hard to close one’s hand or walk without any pain. Common symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, body pains, and malaise. In individuals who have lighter skin tones, cellulitis may manifest as a red or pink patch on the infected skin. In contrast, individuals with darker skin colors will present with the color cellulitis-infected areas as dark brown, grey, or purple.

What Causes Cellulitis?

Cellulitis occurs most often when an individual has a cut or defect in the skin or in an area without skin allowing bacteria entry. The most frequent bacteria responsible for causing cellulitis are:

• Group A ß – hemolytic streptococcus

• Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species are normal inhabitants of the skin and mucosa of the oral cavity and nose in healthy individuals. These bacteria cause infection only when there is broken skin due to a cut or other injury. Other risk factors include dental bites, animal bites, or any injury sustained underwater. There are some risk factors that might increase the chance of getting cellulitis, which are as follows:

• Skin conditions like eczema or athlete’s foot increase cellulitis risk due to skin cracks.

• A weakened immune system limits protection against infection.

• Other risk factors include skin injuries, diabetes, lymphedema, and obesity.

Cellulitis Complications

Untreated or inadequately treated cellulitis can lead to quite serious complications, such as:

• Sepsis: It is the infection of the blood that could be life-threatening.

• Lymphangitis: It is the inflammation of the lymph vessels.

• Abscess: It refers to the accumulation of pus under the skin.

• Necrotizing fasciitis: It is the severe flesh-eating infection.

• Lymphedema: The lymphatic system might be damaged due to cellulitis that causes chronic swelling called lymphedema.

Always seek immediate medical attention in case of the above complications.