What causes recurrent cellulitis in legs?
Factors that may increase your risk of cellulitis include: Preexisting skin diseases, such as athlete’s foot. Puncture injuries, such as insect or animal bites. Surgical incisions or pressure sores.
What is the treatment for cellulitis of the leg?
Cellulitis treatment involves taking antibiotics by mouth for 5 to 14 days. Your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers. Rest until your symptoms improve. Raise the affected limb higher than your heart to reduce swelling.
What is the best antibiotic for cellulitis in the leg?
The best antibiotic to treat cellulitis include dicloxacillin, cephalexin, trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, or doxycycline antibiotics. Cellulitis is a deep skin infection that spreads quickly.
How long do you take clindamycin for cellulitis?
In general, five days of therapy is appropriate for patients with uncomplicated cellulitis whose infection has improved within this time period [2,11,12]. Extension of antibiotic therapy (up to 14 days) may be warranted in the setting of severe infection, slow response to therapy, or immunosuppression.
What can be mistaken for cellulitis?
Several common conditions can mimic cellulitis, creating a potential for misdiagnosis and incorrect management. The most common disorders mistaken for lower limb cellulitis include venous eczema, lipodermatosclerosis, irritant dermatitis, and lymphedema.
What does the beginning of cellulitis look like?
Cellulitis initially appears as pink-to-red minimally inflamed skin. The involved area may rapidly become deeper red, swollen, warm, and tender and increase in size as the infection spreads. Occasionally, red streaks may radiate outward from the cellulitis. Blisters or pus-filled bumps may also be present.
Is cellulitis caused by poor hygiene?
Most commonly, it occurs in areas that may have been damaged or are inflamed for other reasons, such as inflamed injuries, contaminated cuts, or areas with poor skin hygiene. Bad circulation from poor vein function or peripheral arterial disease is a common cause of cellulitis.
Do you feel ill with cellulitis?
Cellulitis can also cause additional symptoms that may develop before or alongside the changes to your skin. These can include: feeling generally unwell. feeling sick.
Can I walk with cellulitis?
You may need to keep your foot elevated as much as possible for a few days. However, to aid circulation, you should go for short walks every now and then and wiggle your toes regularly when your foot is raised. If you have cellulitis in a forearm or hand, a high sling can help to raise the affected area.
How do you feel with cellulitis?
Symptoms of cellulitis Cellulitis is usually painful. The affected area will be red and possibly inflamed (swollen). It may also feel warm to the touch. Skin on the affected area may look glossy or seem “stretched.”
When should you go to the doctor for cellulitis?
See a doctor if you have symptoms of cellulitis. Seek medical attention immediately if the red area of the skin spreads quickly or you develop a fever or chills.