Cellulitis
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and underlying tissues that can affect any area of the body. It often begins in an area of broken skin, like a cut or scratch. Then bacteria invade and spread, causing inflammation, pain, swelling, warmth, and redness.
You’re at risk if you have:
A child is at risk for cellulitis if he or she has:
Causes:
You’re at risk if you have:
- Trauma to the skin
- Diabetes
- Circulatory problems, such as not enough blood flow to your arms and legs, poor drainage of your veins or lymphatic system, or varicose veins -- twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin
- Liver disease such as chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
- Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, or infectious diseases that cause sores, such as chickenpox
A child is at risk for cellulitis if he or she has:
- Skin injury. It may be minor, like an insect bite, scrape, or cut. Or it may be more serious. It may be an animal bite, or from something entering the skin (penetrating injury).
- Skin inflammation. This may be caused by a skin condition like eczema or from radiation therapy.
- Skin infection. Other skin infections that are common in children include impetigo and ringworm (tinea).
- Immune system problems. HIV/AIDS and other conditions make the immune system weak. Cancer medicines also affect the immune system.
Causes:
- Conditions that create breaks in the skin and allow bacteria to enter, such as eczema and severe acne, will put a child at risk for cellulitis.
- Chicken pox, scratched insect bites, animal bites, and puncture wounds are other causes.
- Cellulitis also can form in areas of intact skin, especially in people who have diabetes or who are taking medicines that suppress the immune system.
- Any opening in the skin can lead to an infection and to cellulitis.
- The germs that usually cause cellulitis are:
- Strep (beta-hemolytic streptococci)
- Staph (staphylococcus aureas), including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas (MRSA)
Cellulitis, which is not contagious, usually begins as a small, inflamed area of pain, swelling, warmth, and redness on the skin. As this red area begins to spread, the child may begin to feel sick and develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats. Swollen lymph nodes (commonly called swollen glands) are sometimes found near the area of infected skin.
What are the symptoms of cellulitis?
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each and every person.
They can include:
What are the symptoms of cellulitis?
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each and every person.
They can include:
- Skin that is swollen, painful, or warm
- Skin that looks red, bruised, dimpled, or blistered
- Swollen lymph glands (nodes) nearby
- Swollen lymph vessels nearby, appearing as red streaks on the skin
- Fever and chills
- High heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- The symptoms of cellulitis can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is cellulitis diagnosed?
The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. Testing is usually not needed. But in some cases, samples of wound drainage or blood may be taken. These are then tested for signs of bacteria. This is called a culture.
How is cellulitis treated?
Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
What are possible complications of cellulitis?
In some cases, serious complications can happen.
They may include:
Can cellulitis be prevented?
Cellulitis may be prevented by:
When should I call my child's healthcare provider?
Call the healthcare provider if your child has:
Key points about cellulitis
The Homeopathic drugs:
The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. Testing is usually not needed. But in some cases, samples of wound drainage or blood may be taken. These are then tested for signs of bacteria. This is called a culture.
How is cellulitis treated?
Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
What are possible complications of cellulitis?
In some cases, serious complications can happen.
They may include:
- An area of pus in the skin (abscess)
- Area of dead skin or tissue (necrosis)
- Infection spreading to other tissue or organs
- Treating cellulitis quickly can prevent more serious infections.
Can cellulitis be prevented?
Cellulitis may be prevented by:
- You can prevent cellulitis by protecting your child's skin from cuts, bruises, and scrapes. This may not be easy, especially with active kids who love to explore or play sports. Protective equipment worn to prevent other injuries also can protect skin, such as elbow and knee pads for skating, a helmet for bike riding, shin guards for soccer, long pants and long-sleeved shirts for hiking in the woods, sandals (not bare feet) on the beach, and seatbelts while riding in a motor vehicle.
- If your child does get a scrape, wash the wound well with soap and water. Apply an homoeopathic ointment and cover the wound with an adhesive bandage or gauze. Contact your doctor if your child has a large cut, deep puncture wound, or bite (animal or human).
When should I call my child's healthcare provider?
Call the healthcare provider if your child has:
- Symptoms that affect a large area
- Symptoms that get worse
- Signs of a skin infection, such as increased redness, warmth, swelling, or fluid
- New symptoms
- Symptoms around the eyes or ears
- Numbness, tingling, or other changes in a hand, arm, leg, or foot
- Blackened skin
- Fever
Key points about cellulitis
- Cellulitis is a spreading skin infection.
- It may affect the upper skin layer. Or it may affect the deeper skin and layer of fat under the skin.
- Any opening in the skin can lead to an infection.
- Complications can usually be prevented if your child is treated quickly.
The Homeopathic drugs:
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Ailments attended with pus formation. Skin is unhealthy, even injury festers. Discharges are offensive for e.g. pus, sweat, stools etc. It removes foreign bodies from the tissues. He feels better in warm room, by warm wraps, wrapping up head, in summer, in wet or humid weather. The condition is worse from change of weather, cold, air, drafts, damp. Worse uncovering, bathing, from washing during menses. |
Bibliography:
http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm
http://www.healthline.com/health/cellulitis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulitis
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cellulitis/basics/definition/con-20023471
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214222-overview
http://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/cellulitis-treatment/
http://treatment.hpathy.com/homeo-medicine/homeopathy-erysipelas-cellulitis/
http://www.drhomeo.com/skin-problem/6-best-natural-homeopathic-remedies-for-cellulitis-treatment/
http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm
http://www.healthline.com/health/cellulitis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulitis
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cellulitis/basics/definition/con-20023471
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214222-overview
http://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/cellulitis-treatment/
http://treatment.hpathy.com/homeo-medicine/homeopathy-erysipelas-cellulitis/
http://www.drhomeo.com/skin-problem/6-best-natural-homeopathic-remedies-for-cellulitis-treatment/