Posted on March 25, 2008 in Latest News
Infection that occurs in the skin is called cellulitis. The word cellulitis literally means inflammation of the cells. The most common bacterium that causes cellulitis is Streptococcus. It generally indicates an acute spreading infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues resulting in pain, erythema, edema, and warmth. These infections can become very serious and even life threatening.
Cellulitis is characterized by spreading redness in the area with an increase in the temperature of the skin, often accompanied by fever and chills. Cellulitis is also commonly seen in associated with athlete foot conditions. The athlete’s foot causes small breaks in the skin, which can become infected, by the Streptococcus bacteria. Soft corns, particularly between the fourth and fifth toes can also become infected and cause cellulitis and or an abscess.
Symptoms
The affected area might become red, swollen, tender or warm. The changes in your skin may be accompanied by a fever. Over time, the area of redness tends to expand. Small red spots may appear on top of the reddened skin, and less commonly, small blisters may form and burst.
Who is prone?
People with diabetes are at particular risk of infection. In fact, people with diabetes spend more time in the hospital for foot infections than for any other reason. Corns and callouses on the feet of people with diabetes can break down and allow bacterial invasion of the tissue. In people with long standing open ulceration the underlying bone can become infected.
Treatment
Cellulitis treatment may involve a prescription oral antibiotic. You’ll likely recheck with your doctor one to two days after starting an antibiotic to ensure that the infection is responding to treatment. You’ll need to take the antibiotic for 10 to 14 days.
Bone infections, called osteomyolytis, generally require surgery to remove the infected bone. These infections are very difficult to cure with oral or Intra-venous antibiotics without also removing the infected bone.
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