Infectious cellulitis: causes, risks and how to treat it

infectious cellulitis It is a skin disease that extends deep through the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is about a bacterial disease which causes painful injuries and can even lead to death. It is important to bear in mind that infectious cellulitis is not the same thing as the cellulite observed in the thighs and buttocks, in which case it is a problem related to the accumulation of fat.

This condition must be treated with the use of antibiotics, and in some cases hospitalization is required. To prevent infectious cellulitis, it is recommended, among other measures, to keep the skin clean and avoid touching wounds with hands without proper hygiene.

Read too: Rosacea — skin disease that mainly affects white-skinned women

Infectious cellulitis summary

  • Infectious cellulitis is a infection in skin caused by bacteria.

  • Disease-causing bacteria penetrate the skin, for example, through wounds and mycoses.

  • Infectious cellulitis causes redness of the skin, pain local, swelling, fever, tremors and malaise.

  • When experiencing any symptoms, a doctor should be sought for the diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

  • The treatment of infectious cellulitis involves the use of antibiotics.

  • Infectious cellulitis is a different problem from cellulitis common.

  • Properly cleaning skin wounds is a way to protect yourself from infectious cellulitis.

What is Infectious Cellulitis?

Infectious cellulitis is a illness caused by bacteria that go beyond the barrier made by the skin and reach the deepest layers of the organ, affecting the dermis and tissue subcutaneous. The bacteria most commonly related to the problem are group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. Generally, infectious cellulitis affects adults over 45 years of age, and lower members and the face they are the locations hardest hit.

How is infectious cellulitis acquired?

Infectious cellulitis is a disease caused by different species of bacteria, however group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus are the main bacteria involved in the process. These bacteria enter the skin through lesions in the organ, such as wounds, mycoses and even an improperly squeezed pimple. The disease is not contagious.

See too: Necrotizing fasciitis — the flesh-eating bacteria disease

Symptoms of Infectious Cellulitis

Infectious cellulitis causes symptoms such as skin redness, pain local, swelling, fever, shivering and malaise. The lesion triggered by this disease stands out for being painful, with ill-defined borders, and extending to the subcutaneous tissue. The lesion does not grow centrifugally, as seen in the erysipelas. In some cases, it may be noted presence of blisters or even necrosis.

Leg skin of a person with lesions caused by cellulitis.
Infectious cellulitis causes very painful lesions with ill-defined borders.

The disease can evolve to sepsis, therefore, the individual must be aware of the appearance of any of these symptoms and immediately seek medical help for a correct diagnosis and immediate start of treatment. The diagnosis of the disease is basically made through the analysis of the patient's symptoms.

What is the difference between infectious cellulitis and common cellulitis?

Infectious cellulitis is a different problem from common cellulitis, the latter being characterized by small depressions in the skin that appear mainly on the thighs and buttocks. Common cellulite, more correctly called gynoid lipodystrophy, is a deposit of fat under the skin, which occurs more frequently in white-skinned women. Unlike infectious cellulitis, bacteria are not involved in the process of developing common cellulite and this is not considered a disease.

Know more: Bacteria present in our body that are essential for its proper functioning

Is there a cure for infectious cellulitis?

Infectious cellulitis is a disease that has a cure, being treated with the use of specific antibiotics. In some cases, there is a need for hospitalization for treatment, and the drug will be administered by injection.

How to prevent infectious cellulitis?

Infectious cellulitis, as highlighted throughout the text, is caused by bacteria that penetrate the skin and affect the deepest layers of this organ. To prevent the problem, it is important to adopt simple measures in everyday life, such as:

  • take care of personal hygiene;

  • properly clean wounds and bruises;

  • ever wash hands when touching wounds.

By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher

Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/doencas/celulite-infecciosa.htm

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