Cellulitis definition

Cellulitis in a nutshell:

In simplest terms cellulitis may be explained as the inflammation of the connective tissues that lies beneath the skin, which is generally caused by bacterial infection. Cellulitis may be the outcome of the activities of the collective skin bacteria medically termed as the skin flora that are present in every human or by the exogenous bacteria. The prevalence is mostly in the areas where the skin has previously been broken or in the cracks. In some rare cases it also occurs in the places where the skin has a cut or burn, insect bites or even in a surgical wound. Cellulitis may easily be characterized by the redness, warmth, swelling or pain, which is caused by the acute spread of the bacterial infection under the epidermal layer of the skin. The symptoms sometimes may also accompany fever, chills, swollen glands and enlarged lymph nodes as well.

Causes and common symptoms:

The reasons for the occurrence of the conditions may be quite diverse. Though a variety of bacteria can cause this disease, the most common causes of cellulitis are bacteria known as the Staphylococcus, Epidermis, Progenies, and Aureus. Any break in the skin's defense may act as a venture for the bacterial to make its entry into the body marking the beginning of the infection as its prime activity. In many cases specific locations on the body are prone to infection with certain organisms, such as fungal infections of the fingernails and or toenails, while other cases of cellulitis have been observed to appear on areas of trauma, where the skin has broken open, such as the skin near ulcers or surgical wounds. Still in most of the cases it is observed to occur in the exposed areas of the body like arms, legs and face. The most common symptoms include the appearances of red patches under the skin along with swelling, warmth, pain or tenderness. In more rare cases streaks of the red patches may be seen traveling up the area thus causing a rapid spread of the infection. Sometimes the sufferers may also complain of fever, frequent chills or headaches.

Care & prevention for cellulitis:

The most common form of treatment available over the counter for treating cellulitis is the intake of antibiotic medicine for killing the bacteria. The excessive pain caused may be effectively dealt with by applying warm or cool dressings on the affected area which helps lessen the pain to a great deal. If an arm or a leg is infected then raising it above the level of the heart may help in bringing down the swelling and the pain as well. A good hygiene and a good care of the wounds may really prove fruitful in lowering the risks of cellulitis in the long run. Even though mild infection can be treated & taken care at home, hospital care and medical attention may be required in severe cases.

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