Cellulitis Skin Infection - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

Cellulitis is an infection of skin and some underlying tissues. It generally attacks on an arm or leg. However it can occur anywhere on the body. In this disease  some subcutaneous fat and fibrous tissue deposits on skin that cause a dimpling effect on the overlying skin. Though diet and exercise can diminish cellulite, a large part of cellulite is comprised of toxins and fat that accrues within the body. Cellulite can affect men and women of any body weight or size.

Bacteria usually enter through small breaks in the epidermis that result from scrapes, punctures, burns, and skin disorders such as dermatitis. Areas of the skin that become swollen with fluid are especially vulnerable. However, cellulitis can also occur in skin that is not overtly injured.

Causes

1. The germs are the causes of occurring this disease. Although your skin provides a good protection. But sometimes the cuts, the athletes’ foot, badly scratched eczema or any injection paves the way for the germs (bacteria) to enter your body. Inside the body germs increase and make the body infectious.
2. Areas of the skin that become swollen with fluid are especially vulnerable. cellulitis can also occur in skin that is not overtly injured.
3. The children who are under age of 6 bacteria H. flu (Hemophilus influenzae) causes cellulitis. Cellulitis from a dog or cat bite or scratch may be caused by the Pasturella multocida bacteria, which has a very short incubation period of only four to 24 hours.

Symptoms

1. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body but most chances are to have cellulitis on the arms or legs.
2. Cellulitis causes redness, swelling and pain at the site of infection.
3. In cullulitis Skin lesion or rash with sudden onset, usually with sharp borders, Rapid growth within the first 24 hours.
4. Some people can be colonized with S. aureus and never get an infection. For those people who do get an infection, the time from exposure to development of disease can be from days to years.
5. other symptoms can be associated with cellulitis such as Nausea and vomiting, Joint stiffness caused by swelling of the tissue over the joint, Hair loss at the site of infection

Treatment

1. In treatment of cellulitis hospitalization may be required if it is severe enough. In other cases treatment with oral antibiotics and close outpatient follow up is enough.
2. In treatment of cellulitis, it is difficult to recognize what kind of inflammation is that. It is difficult or sometimes impossible to distinguish whether the inflammation is due to an infection or not. So doctors treat with different antibiotics just to be sure. If results are not positive then different methods are to be used to click the right infection. E.g. if the inflammation is thought to be due to an autoimmune disorder, treatment may be with a corticosteroid.
3. Usually the symptoms of cellulitis disappers in a few days. At some moment of time the condition becomes worse before they get better. Antibiotics are continued for 10 days or longer even though the symptoms may disappear earlier.