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Cellulitis

Cellulitis Overview

Cellulitis is a common infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath the skin. It occurs when bacteria invade broken or normal skin and start to spread just under the skin or in the skin itself. This results in infection and inflammation. Inflammation is a process in which the body reacts to the bacteria. Inflammation may cause swelling, redness, pain, or warmth.

People at risk for getting cellulitis include those with trauma to the skin or other medical problems such as the following:
- Diabetes
- Circulatory problems such as inadequate blood flow to the limbs, poor venous or lymphatic drainage, or varicose veins
- Liver disease such as chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
- Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, or infectious diseases that cause skin lesions such as chickenpox or severe acne

Causes of Cellulitis

Causes of cellulitis include:

Injuries that break the skin
Infections related to a surgical procedure
Any breaks in the skin that allow bacteria to invade the skin (examples are chronic skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis)
Foreign objects in the skin
Infection of bone underneath the skin (An example is a long-standing open wound that is deep enough to expose the bone to bacteria. Sometimes this occurs in people with diabetes who cannot feel their feet.)

Cellulitis Symptoms

Cellulitis can occur in almost any part of the body. Most commonly it occurs in areas that have been damaged or are inflamed for other reasons, such as inflamed lesions, contaminated cuts, and areas with poor skin condition or bad circulation. The common symptoms of cellulitis are as follows:

Redness of the skin
Red streaking of the skin or broad areas of redness
Swelling
Warmth
Pain or tenderness
Drainage or leaking of yellow clear fluid or pus from the skin
If the condition spreads to the body via the blood, then fevers and chills can result.

When to Seek Medical Care for Cellulitis

Call your doctor if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of cellulitis:

Fevers or chills
Redness on the skin
Red streaks from skin
Increased warmth
Swelling
Tenderness
Drainage from the skin

Go to the hospital's emergency department if you have any signs or symptoms of cellulitis, especially the following:

High fevers or chills
Nausea and vomiting
Obvious enlargement or hardening of the reddened area
Increasing pain
Numbness of the reddened or tender area when touched
Other medical problems that may be affected by even a minor infection

Exams and Tests for Cellulitis

Most likely the doctor will make the diagnosis of cellulitis from a medical history, physical examination, and these exams and tests:

The doctor may also draw blood for testing if he or she feels the infection is severe enough to be in the bloodstream.
The doctor also may order an x-ray of the area if there is concern that a foreign object is in the skin or that bone underneath is infected.
The doctor may try to draw fluid from the affected area with a needle and send the fluid to the laboratory for a culture.