Inflammation of any type can be a real bane for the existence of any individual, however, inflammation of the skin is extremely misfortunate and it can cause irreparable damage to the mental and physical health of a person. Cellulitis is a skin inflammation condition of the inner layers of skin which reaches the dermal or the subcutaneous fat layer.
Cellulitis is a skin condition that affects the legs and face of the patient. Triggered by a bacterial infection, cellulitis is a commonly occurring condition in older adults. Cellulitis prolonged over a long time can result in the contaminated bloodstream while giving you septicemia or blood infection which can lead to even death, apart from that the expanded damage can also cause disruption to the health of lymph nodes.
Even though cellulitis does not necessarily translate into long-term side effects, but as situations get more deadly the patient can require round-the-clock medical attention. Henceforth, it is imperative to confront a revolting case of cellulitis with expert medical care followed by effective medical treatment.
We have prepared for you a list of ten common cellulitis causes which can effectively help the patient to avoid all the dangers of this dreadful medical condition.
Cause 1: Exposure to cellulitis causing bacteria
Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are two of the most common types of bacterias that are associated with the occurrence of cellulitis. Even though, both the bacteria are also associated with the development of numerous other health conditions like an abscess, folliculitis and strep throat. Their exposure to the inner layers of skin or bloodstream can wreak havoc for the individuals. These infection-causing versions of bacteria are commonly found on the surfaces of wooden tables, clothes, and utensils. Bacteria types like Haemophilus influenza or clostridium are also associated with the development of cellulitis.
Cause 2: Damaged immune system
Our immune system keeps us protected from the harmful pathogens that can trigger health conditions and dysfunctionalities in our body. It’s a defense mechanism that sandbags disease-causing pathogens. However, in some special cases, pathogens acquire an excessive amount of space which leads to a pierced defense shield, the weak and compromised line of defense paves way for the development of infections like cellulitis. Deficiency of proteins, vitamins and minerals can directly compromise the health of our immune system.
Cause 3: Scratches, wounds and cuts
Forcefully peeling out the protective layer of the skin through excessive scratching or any unintentional wound or cut can drastically impact the overall health of the skin by making it exposed to disease-carrying pathogens which can contaminate the bloodstream while giving access to the entry of dangerous infections. Wounds and cuts should be cleaned properly to avoid any possible invasion of pathogens. Proper precautions should be taken to block the entry of pathogens as their entry in the bloodstream can be life-threatening.
Moving further to the symptoms of the conditions where we can use the groaning signs to seek proper medical attention in time.
Symptom 1: Feeling feverish
Fever is our body’s way of alerting us against the forceful entry of disease-causing pathogens in our body. The body has its innate ability to fight alien invaders by increasing the temperature which contrives a discomfort situation for the pathogens. Fevers are also combined with sensations of extreme cold, chilling is triggered due to the perpetual movement of the muscles to produce heat.
Symptom 2: Redness and swelling
The occurrence of cellulitis is commonly associated with the appearance of 4 major symptoms that include redness, unusual swelling, unbearable pain and the subsequent feeling of warmth. The discomfort from the symptoms of cellulitis does not stay restricted to any special parts of the body, the impact of the condition can rapidly expand throughout the entire body to cause redness and swelling everywhere. The symptoms further debilitate the body strength by causing fluid-filled blisters.
Symptom 3: Lymphangitis and lymphadenitis
Infection that reaches the lymphatic vessels is known as lymphangitis, it causes discomfort by causing extreme redness and warming sensations on the skin. The infection is followed by other discomforting symptoms like fever, tachycardia and headaches while on the other hand lymphadenitis is an infection that is associated with the damage of lymph nodes. Lymphadenitis causes pain and inflammatory sensations in the lymph node region of the body and it is also followed by the frequent episodes of high-temperature fevers.
Effective treatments that would provide relief from the discomfort of cellulitis
Treatment 1: Oral antibiotic therapy
In subtle cases of cellulitis, even the oral therapy of the antibiotics is quite effective and beneficial in stopping the expansion of the infection and providing relief to the affected skin part. The oral therapy can last for as much as 14 days of the treatment, however, if the patient does not show any active signs of improvement then alternative treatment methods should be deployed. In the case of oral therapy, the inflammation affected skin part slowly heals with no more widening of the impact.
Treatment 2: Antibiotic therapy
In rare and intense versions of cellulitis infection type patients are made to go through intravenous antibiotic therapy to combat the invasion of disease-causing pathogens. Even though antibiotic therapy is also used for strengthening a debilitating immune system and for patients who are suffering from kidney, heart, or liver failure but the type of therapy directly depends on the type of bacteria inhibiting the immune system.
Treatment 3: Surgeries and drainage
Surgically removal of the affected skin part is an effective treatment for patients suffering from a severe case of cellulitis. Conditions like circumferential cellulitis need to confronted with surgical decompression and the filled abscesses that chokes the inner layers of the skins are surgically removed through drainage. Surgical removal stops the expansion of the infection and orchestrates a faster relief cycle for the deal skin area.