Cellulitis is an acute inflammation of the connective tissue of the skin. Science it is a illness of skin so it can affect any area of the body. It is most often found that it started in an area of broken skin, often from a cut, burn, or an insect bite. The infection spreads from the skin to underlying tissues. In severe cases, it can spread quickly, within hours or days. Cellulitis is usually not contagious.



Causes

Most of the medical researcher believes that it may be caused by many different bacteria. The most common are those of the Streptococcus species. Streptococci spread rapidly in the skin because they produce enzymes that have ability to enter to the tissue of human being to confine the infection. Bacteria usually enter through small breaks in the epidermis that result from scrapes, punctures, burns, and skin disorders such as dermatitis. The skin tissues in the infected area become red, hot, irritated and painful.

Risk factors for cellulitis include:-

* Insect bites and stings, animal bite, or human bite

* Injury or trauma with a break in the skin (skin wounds)

* History of peripheral vascular disease

* Diabetes -related or ischemic ulcers

* Cracks or peeling skin between the toes

* Use of immunosuppressive or corticosteroid medications

Symptoms

Cellulitis frequently occurs on exposed areas of the body such as the arms, legs, and face.

Cellulitis may result in skin that is:

* Red

* Tender

* Warm

* fever or chills and

* headaches

In advanced cases of cellulitis, red streaks may be seen traveling up the affected area. The swelling can spread rapidly. Swollen lymph nodes are sometimes found near the area of infected skin

Treatment

Treatment sometimes requires a stay in the hospital. This is common if antibiotics must be given intravenously, but it is also considered if you have signs of complications such as a high fever, or if it will be difficult for you to have follow-up care with a health professional. The common antibiotics used are penicillin-based antibiotics (e.g. penicillin G or flucloxacillin) or cephalosporins (e.g. cefotaxime or cefazolin). Sometimes oral probenecid is added to maintain antibiotic levels in the blood Treatment for uncomplicated cellulitis is usually for 10 to 14 days but antibiotics should be continued until all signs of infection have cleared like redness, pain and swelling also for sometimes for several months.

In situations where a broader antibiotic cover is required, for example a diabetic patient with a foot ulcer complicated by cellulitis, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid may be used.

Treatment for children depends on their age and which part of the body is infected. An antibiotic is usually given intravenously. Facial cellulitis in young children requires immediate treatment and responds well to antibiotics.