Content

• Steps
• Advice

Cellulitis is a skin infection that occurs when an open wound (cut, abrasion, or injury) comes into contact with bacteria. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are the two most common strains of bacteria that cause cellulitis. Cellulitis caused by these two bacteria is often accompanied by a red, itchy, and hot rash. The rash then spreads and leads to fever. If not treated properly, cellulitis can lead to complications such as sepsis in the bones, meningitis, or infection of the lymph vessels. Therefore, you should get immediate medical attention if you notice early symptoms of cellulitis.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Reception of diagnosis

1. 

   Know your risk factors. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin that usually occurs in the legs and is invaded and spread by two strains of bacteria Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. There are many risk factors that make these two strains of bacteria more likely to enter the skin.
   • Open wound. Cuts, burns or abrasions break the skin and allow bacteria to enter.
   • Get eczema, chickenpox, shingles or peeling skin if the skin is too dry. When the outermost layer of skin is not intact, bacteria have a chance to enter.
   • Weakened immune system.Your risk of skin infection is higher if you have HIV / AIDS, diabetes, kidney disease, or other diseases that affect the immune system.
   • Lymphedema, or chronic swelling of the legs or arms, causes the skin to crack and become susceptible to infection.
   • Obesity is one of the risk factors for cellulitis.
   • If you have had cellulitis, the greater your risk of re-infection.

2. 

   
   
   Recognize symptoms and signs. The most noticeable symptom of cellulitis is a red and itchy rash that spreads from the affected area of ​​the skin. A redness that spreads near a cut, burn, or open wound may be a sign that you have cellulitis. Watch for the following symptoms:
   • A red, itchy, and tingling rash that then spreads and swelling. The skin tends to stretch.
   • Pain and tenderness around the area of ​​the infection.
   • Chills, fatigue and fever when the infection spreads.

3. 

   
   
   Confirmed the diagnosis of cellulitis. See a doctor right away if you notice symptoms of cellulitis, even if the rash has not spread too broadly. Without timely treatment, cellulitis can lead to serious complications. Cellulitis can also be a sign of a deeper, more dangerous infection that is spreading.
   • Talk to your doctor about the symptoms and signs of cellulitis you are noticing.
   • In addition to doing physical exams, your doctor may perform additional tests such as a Whole Blood Test (CBC) or blood culture.
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Part 2 of 3: Dealing with inflammatory cellulitis

1. 

   
   
   Protect those around you. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bacteria are becoming more common and very contagious. Therefore, you should not share personal items such as razors, towels, or clothing. In addition, your caregiver should also wear gloves before touching an inflamed wound or anything potentially contaminated.

2. 

   Clean the skin with cellulitis. Wash the wound often with soap and water. You can wrap a cool, damp washcloth around the wound to feel better. Seeing your doctor is an important step, but cleaning the affected area will also help prevent the infection from spreading.

3. 

   Bandage. The open wound must be protected until the skin heals. Wrap the bandage on the wound and change it every day. This will help protect the wound while the body recovers its natural immune system.

4. 

   Wash your hands often. Wash your hands often before and after touching the wound to prevent bacteria from multiplying in the wound or spreading it to other open wounds on the body.

5. 

   Use a simple pain reliever. If the wound is swollen and painful, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce swelling and discomfort. Drink as much as possible. Quit taking the medicine when your doctor has officially prescribed another special treatment. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Treatment and prevention of cellulitis

1. 

   Take an antibiotic. Antibiotics are the most common treatment for cellulitis. Treatment depends on the degree of infection and your health. However, antibiotic prescriptions often include oral antibiotics to kill bacteria. Cellulitis will subside within a few days and disappear completely within 7-10 days.
   • Your doctor may recommend that you take 500 mg of Cephalexin every 6 hours. If you suspect a MRSA infection, your doctor may prescribe Bactrim, Clindamycin, Doxycycline, or Minocycline. Bactrim is the most commonly prescribed drug for MRSA infections.
   • Your doctor will recommend monitoring your condition for 2-3 days. If the disease goes into remission, you will need to take the full dose of the antibiotic (usually within 14 days) to make sure the bacteria are completely killed. It is forbidden to stop taking antibiotics or skip doses to avoid re-infection.
   • Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics if you are healthy and have only skin infections. However, if the infection deepens and other symptoms are present, taking antibiotics will not be strong enough to kill the bacteria.

2. 

   Get treatment for severe cellulitis. In severe cases, when cellulitis is ingrained in the body, you must be hospitalized for treatment. Antibiotics will be injected into a vein to eliminate bacteria faster than the oral medication.

3. 

   Clean the wound carefully. Cellulitis often occurs when an open wound is not properly bandaged, allowing bacteria to easily enter. The best way to prevent bacteria from entering is to clean the wound immediately after a cut, cut, or burn.
   • Wash the wound with soap and water. Wash the wound daily until it has healed.
   • If the wound is large or deep, use sterile gauze to cover it. Change the bandage every day until the wound heals.

4. 

   Raise your legs up high. Poor circulation makes the wound take a long time to heal. Raising the wound with cellulitis will help to heal faster. For example, if you have cellulitis in your legs, you can lift your leg up to improve blood circulation and help the wound heal faster.
   • Rest your feet on the pillow while you sleep.

5. 

   Watch for signs of infection in the wound. Check the wound every day while removing the bandage to make sure it is healing. If the wound is swollen, red, or itchy, you should see your doctor. Dry wound is also a sign of infection, so see your doctor if this is the case.

6. 

   Take good care of the skin. Cellulitis can affect people with dermatological diseases, so taking good care of the skin is an important preventive measure. If your skin is sensitive or dry, or you have diabetes, eczema, or other skin conditions, use the following ways to protect your skin and prevent cellulitis.
   • Moisturizes the skin to prevent flaking. Drink plenty of water to keep your body moist.
   • Protect your feet by wearing socks and boots.
   • Avoid cutting the skin when cutting toenails.
   • Treat athlete's foot in time to prevent a more serious infection.
   • Treat the lymphedema to keep the skin from cracking.
   • Avoid activities that hurt your legs (eg hiking through rocky areas, gardening, etc.).
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Advice

• It is possible to prevent recurrent cellulitis by protecting the skin. Always clean the skin wound with water and soap, and then cover the wound.
• Follow your doctor's instructions when treating cellulitis. You may even need to see a specialist, such as an infectious specialist, if you have severe cellulitis.