Cellulitis

Summary

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep underlying tissues. Group A strep (streptococcal) bacteria are the most common cause. The bacteria enter your body when you get an injury such as a bruise, burn, surgical cut, or wound.

Symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Swollen glands or lymph nodes
• A rash with painful, red, tender skin. The skin may blister and scab over.

Your health care provider may take a sample or culture from your skin or do a blood test to identify the bacteria causing infection. Treatment is with antibiotics. They may be oral in mild cases, or intravenous (by IV) for more severe cases.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Start Here

• Cellulitis VisualDX
• Cellulitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Teenagers

• Cellulitis Nemours Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Cellulitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Orbital cellulitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Perianal streptococcal cellulitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Periorbital cellulitis Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Cellulitis American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Erysipelas American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
• What Is Cellulitis? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Related Issues

• Cellulitis Infection: Is It Contagious? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Cellulitis: How to Prevent Recurrent Episodes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Group A Streptococcal Infections National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cellulitis National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Erysipelas Medical Encyclopedia
• Fibrinopeptide A blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Ludwig’s angina Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology
• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Journal Articles

• Cellulitis