Cellulitis - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
If you've been diagnosed with cellulitis, you might be wondering what the best treatment is. This article discusses the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of this condition. Read on to learn more. Symptoms of cellulitis include redness, itching, burning, and pus-filled lumps on the skin. It's also important to know how to avoid getting the condition in the future. If you're suffering from the infection, you can consult your physician to determine what the best treatment is.
Symptoms
Treatment for cellulitis usually involves antibiotics. The condition generally clears up within seven to 10 days, but severe cases may require longer treatments. Make sure to take the full course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that your swelling or redness may be due to an abscess, your doctor may recommend surgical drainage. However, if these symptoms persist for two weeks or longer, consult a doctor. Cellulitis is a dangerous infection. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including infection of the blood.
Treatment for cellulitis may include antibiotics taken orally or given as injections. Your physician should also know if you've ever had an allergic reaction to antibiotics. Some home remedies for cellulitis include elevating the affected area and applying acetaminophen to reduce the swelling. If your cellulitis is severe, you may require antibiotics to be given intravenously (IV). These treatments can be started on the same day that you first notice the symptoms.
Causes
There are several causes of cellulitis. Cellulitis can be an isolated occurrence or it can complicate a wound or underlying skin condition. It can also be associated with a blood infection called lymphadenitis or lymphangitis. In this case, the red line tracks from the infection site to lymph glands nearby. As the skin heals, it may flake off, making it itchy. In rare cases, cellulitis can develop into a serious infection, such as sepsis, which may cause hypotension, reduced capillary circulation, heart failure, diarrhoea, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Treatment for cellulitis usually involves antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually administered as oral medication, but in some cases, IV antibiotics are given to people with severe cellulitis or compromised immune systems. If an oral antibiotic fails to clear up the infection, patients may be given an IV. Cellulitis treatment can be prolonged by immobilizing the affected area and applying cool wet dressings. If the swelling does not go away, antibiotics are often given to prevent the skin from becoming infected with further bacterial infections.
Treatment
There are many types of cellulitis treatments available, from antibiotics to amputation. Symptoms include a red line running from the site of infection to the lymph glands nearby. Some patients may have a rash and flaky skin, which is common and accompanied by itching. In severe cases, cellulitis may develop into a serious condition called sepsis, a life-threatening infection. The infection can spread to the rest of the body, including muscles and bones, which can be fatal.
Fortunately, the majority of cases of cellulitis are treatable. In most cases, a course of antibiotics can clear up the infection within two to three days. More severe cases may require longer treatment. Antibiotics must be taken for the full course recommended by your healthcare provider. In severe cases, surgical drainage may be necessary to remove dead tissue and drain abscesses. After treatment, a skin infection will disappear. However, the timeframe for full recovery depends on the severity of the infection.
Prevention
The prevention of cellulitis is of paramount importance for the survival of the patients and the health of the entire community. Most of the hospital admissions for cellulitis are for recurrent episodes, which contribute to the burden and cost of this infection. One Dutch study estimated the direct costs of cellulitis to be over EUR 17 million in 2001. The underlying risk factors for cellulitis are also considered in cellulitis prevention.
Bacteria are responsible for most cases of cellulitis. The bacteria typically enter the body through a break or a wound on the skin, such as a tattoo or spider bite. Cellulitis may also develop in areas with damaged blood vessels, which are prone to repeated infections. The prevention of cellulitis is an important topic in medical research. Although there are no proven strategies for preventing cellulitis, researchers suggest a variety of measures to improve health and reduce its incidence.
