You may have heard the word cellulitis mentioned in a couple of times already.
Unfortunately, your doctor told you that your legs are infected with it.
Suddenly, a lot of questions streamed into your mind.
What has caused the disease? What are cellulitis symptoms that should be taken seriously? What is the best treatment for cellulitis for you? Cellulitis actually means inflammation of a group of cells in one's body, particularly the deep layers of your skin called the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.
These layers can only be seen in the microscope or in a CT scan.
Cells are inflamed because it has been attacked with bacteria.
You may not know it but the most common bacteria classified in the Staphylococcus group cause cell damage and inflammation.
This happens when your skin has a bruise, a fresh open wound, a cut or any kind of wound that has been the result of an operation.
Without the right body defenses, your skin cannot resist the invasion of the flesh-eating Staphylococcus bacteria and the Group A Streptococcus.
Yes, wounds and cuts are so common but it surely will get infected in the presence of an ill-performing immune system and other skin diseases.
People who are extremely obese with high sugar blood levels, hyperthermia, erythema with diabetes or HIV have a high risk to be infected with cellulitis.
Initial symptoms will surely include an inflammation of the infected skin area.
Because Staph bacteria are also infecting the skin's inner layers, the skin's flesh is also quite tender and warm to touch.
In some instances, there are rashes in the skin's outer layers.
These symptoms are accompanied with high fever that may lead to chills and convulsions.
This is especially dangerous among children with cellulitis as the fever may also affect other organs like the brain and the lungs.
Person with cellulilitis do not like to have much activity and would just prefer to stay in bed all day long.
Oral functions like eating and drinking are also suspended.
Doctors have several classifications of cellulitis based on the area where it originates and its reasons of occurrence.
Cellulitis of the extremities is the most common wherein the hands and legs are affected.
Orbital and periorbital cellulitis are two cellulitis types that infect the eye.
This is usually caused by an infection from neighboring organs like the teeth and sinuses.
It is called facial cellulitis when Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) bacteria attacked the dermis of your face.
It is perianal Cellulitis when the swelling and tenderness can be found in the individual's anal area.
This type is different because it would not cause any fever or chill to the infected person.
Women with breast cancer or a failing immune system may also get infected with breast cellulitis wherein symptoms can extend on other skin areas like the shoulders and back.