Cellulitis

Cellulitis Erysipelas Infection
Source: Derm Atlas

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is the bacterial infection of the subcutaneous tissue, which is the fatty layer present under the skin that contains the blood vessels and the nerves supplying the skin. Cellulitis is characterized by the presence of ill-defined red and painful swelling in the skin. Cellulitis isn't a serious health problem; however if not properly treated, it may lead to serious complications.

Symptoms

The symptoms of cellulitis include the presence of poorly defined swelling of the skin which is painful, red and tender, tender means it causes pain on touch. Similar to any other bacterial infection, cellulitis is usually accompanied with fever and swelling of the neighbor lymph nodes.

Cellulitis may become severe and leads to serious complications. These complications include suppuration, which means formation of pus, tissue necrosis, which means focal death of the tissues, or even gangrene, which means complete death of certain part of the body that should be amputated. If cellulitis affects the skin around the eye orbit, the adjacent brain and meninges may be affected.

Treatment

The treatment of cellulitis should be started as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of its serious complications. The treatment of cellulitis includes rest and anti-pyretic medications to relieve the associated fever and pain.

Anti-biotic drugs such as penicillin (Penicillin V) are very powerful in fighting cellulitis. Penicillin is considered the drug of choice for case of cellulitis. However, in some cases where the is a sensitivity toward penicillin or the organism is resistant, erythromycin (Erythrocin) is indicated.