Cellulitis

What is cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. The infection makes the skin look swollen and red. The infected area is also usually warm and painful.

Cellulitis can occur on any part of the body. It can start with a small area that then gets bigger.

Signs and symptoms of cellulitis

Your child may have cellulitis if an affected area of skin is:

• swollen
• painful
• red
• warm
• tender

Causes of cellulitis

Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enter your child’s body through a scratch, cut or other break in the skin. The bacteria most likely to cause cellulitis are group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. You might not be able to see where the bacteria enter.

Your child is more likely to get this infection if they have:

• dry or flaky skin
• other skin conditions such as eczema
• burns, scratches, splinters, cuts or scrapes
• spider or insect bites
• an incision from recent surgery
  

What a health-care provider can do for cellulitis

Your child’s health-care provider will examine your child to determine if they have cellulitis. If the cellulitis is more severe, your child may also need a blood test. A health-care provider may outline the affected area with pen to see if the infection spreads.

Antibiotics

If your child has cellulitis, their health-care provider will prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Your child can usually take this antibiotic orally (by mouth).

Your child might need an intravenous antibiotic (one delivered through the vein) if their infection is more severe.

After your child starts antibiotics, the area of redness can sometimes become worse before it gets better. The infection should begin to improve after a few days of treatment.

How to prevent cellulitis

The best way to prevent cellulitis is to treat skin conditions such as dry skin, molluscum or eczema and to clean wounds when they occur. To prevent cellulitis resulting from burns, scrapes or cuts, remember to immediately clean wounds well with soap and water. Keep open wounds clean, dry and covered until they form a scab and seek medical care for any puncture wounds or deep wounds.

Complications of cellulitis

Cellulitis can cause serious complications if it is not treated because the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body or infect deeper tissues below the skin. Complications include abscesses, infection in the blood (bacteremia), sepsis, meningitis and necrotizing fasciitis.

Signs that cellulitis has become severe and spread to other parts of the body

• neck stiffness
• excessive sleepiness, confusion or disorientation
• vomiting (throwing up)
• difficulty walking
• seizures (convulsions)
• cold, clammy skin
• rapidly spreading redness or swelling
• severe pain
• rapid breathing

Taking care of your child at home

Finish all antibiotics

Even if your child is feeling better, continue to give them the antibiotics until they are finished.

Treat fever and pain

Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat fever or pain. You can also help decrease pain by applying cool packs to the affected area.

When to see a health-care provider

See your child’s health-care provider when they first show symptoms of cellulitis.

Go the nearest emergency department if your child:

• cannot take the prescribed antibiotic because they are vomiting often
• has a fever lasting longer than 72 hours after first taking the antibiotic
• has increased swelling, redness or pain after the first 24 to 48 hours of antibiotic treatment
• develops red streaks on the skin, spreading out from the initial site of infection
• has cellulitis around an eye that does not improve after 24 to 48 hours of antibiotic treatment
• has neck stiffness
• has excessive sleepiness, confusion or disorientation
• has cold, clammy skin
• has rapidly spreading redness or swelling
• has severe pain
• has rapid breathing

Your child may show physical changes when their condition is serious or when their condition gets worse. Parents and caregivers can learn how to spot these signs in order to seek help from a health-care provider.