Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a severe but non-contagious inflammation of body tissue (especially that below th skin), caused by infection with staphylococcus, streptococcus or other bacteria.

Skin has three layers; cellulitis is an infection at the deepest layer, called the subcutaneous layer. It is caused when bacteria broke into the body through cracked skin (through cuts, scratches, animal or a bug bite especially if it‘s further scratched).

Normally in case of injuries, only the top layers near surface of the skin are affected, and it is slowly healed. If an infection follows than it may just affect the top layers of skin. A deeper infection becomes cellulitis; it makes all three layers of skin red, swollen, and tender.

Many different types of bacteria can induce cellulitis, but the most frequent are Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Other bacteria seldom cause cellulitis. A cellulitis after being bitten by a cat or dog may be initiated by Pasteurella multocida bacteria. Cellulitis due to Pseudomonas infection occurs after nail wounds. Other types of bacteria from seafood and farm animals can also cause cellulitis.

Group (a) Streptococci

There are more than 120 different known strains of group (a) streptococci, each creating its unique proteins. Some of these proteins are agents for specific group (a) streptococcal diseases. Group (a) streptococcal infections can range from slight skin infection or scratchy throat to intense, life-threatening conditions such as toxic shock syndrome (multi-organ failures), bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain, soft tissue disease commonly known as flesh eating disease, strep throat which is with minor skin infection, known as the most frequent form of the disease.

Approximately, over 10 million mild infections of throat and skin happen every year.

Periorbital Cellulite's: is a threatening infection with potentially severe complications. Often initiated by a bacterial infection from the sinuses. Other causes are a sty on the eyelid, recent trauma to the eyelid admitting bug bites, or any injuring object. Particularly in youngsters, orbital cellulitis is started from a sinus infection and because of the organism Hemophilus influenzae.

Other organisms such as Staphlococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Beta hemolytic streptococci can also be the reason. Newborn and young children up to age 7 years are exceedingly prone to infection with Hemophilus influenza, and are most at risk. Intense problems have reduced gradually since the introduction of HiB vaccine (Hemophilus influenza B). Complications include sinus infections or injury to the eyelid including bug bites.

Fever resulting from infection is generally 102 degrees F or greater, with painful swelling of upper and lower lids (upper is usually greater). Eyelids appear shiny and are red or purple in color. Infant or child is acutely ill or toxic; eye causes pain, especially when it is moved. Because the lid is swollen over the eye it decreases vision also bulging the eye.

Patients and Age Group

Children suffering from chickenpox, and also people with suppressed and compromised immune systems like, burn victims, elderly people suffering from diabetes, blood vessel disease, or people with cancer on steroid treatments or chemotherapy, intravenous drug users are also more at risk.

Symptoms & Complications

Cellulitis is more frequently seen on the legs but can also appear anywhere. The initial symptoms are redness, pain, and tenderness over an area of skin. The symptoms are a result of both bacteria and body's attempts to stop the infection.

The infected skin increasingly turns hot and slightly swollen and might appear slightly pitted, at times resembling an orange peel. Fluid-filled blisters, small (small anatomically normal sac or bladder like structure) or large (skin filled with serous fluid), often appear on the infected skin.

Erysipelas is a form of streptococcal cellulite's, which makes the skin bright red and alarmingly swollen also the edges of the infected area are raised. The swelling happens because the infection blocks the lymphatic vessels in the skin.

Prevention

Usually, good prevention means protecting skin from cuts, bruises, and scrapes. Protective equipment worn to prevent other injuries during activity can also protect skin, like elbow and kneepads, long pants and long-sleeved shirts while, sandals while walking in grass, and seatbelts while riding in a motor vehicle.
In case of a scrape, the wound should be wash well with soap and water, and after an application of antibiotic ointment it must be covered with an adhesive bandage or gauze. If the cut is large, deep puncture wound, or bite (animal or human) than it has to be treated by a doctor.

Treatment

After a sample or culture from skin lesions is taken to identify the bacteria causing infection, bacteria is recovered from blood. Depending on the severity of the infection treatment requires either oral or intravenous antibiotics. In intense cases hospitalization is usually required.

Treatment consists of IV fluids with antibiotics. Surgical drainage of an abscess may be necessary. These infections can progress rapidly, and they must be carefully followed every few hours.