Cellulitis Treatment

        Early cellulitis treatment with antibiotics can prevent the spread of infection in blood or organs. In mild cases of cellulitis, antibiotics are taken orally. Instead, in any of these situations, antibiotics are administered intravenously:

• The infection is severe, rapidly spreading
• Patient is a child or elder
• Patients suffer from other medical problems
• Infection is affecting large areas of skin

       In theese cases, cellulitis treatment requires hospitalization, in order to keep the patient under close observation.

       Affected area must be immobilized as much as possible and held to a higher level than the rest of the body so that the swelling can be reduced. Cold dressings applied in the infected area may reduce the symptoms and the pain can be calmed with analgesics.

        Although cellulitis symptoms usually disappear after a few days of antibiotic therapy, treatment should be continued for 10 days, to insure a complete eradication of the bacteria.

Administration

       Antibiotic cellulitis treatment can be given intravenously, orally or by applying special ointments have the antibiotic composition. The type of treatment used is decided depending on the severity of the infection as well as on its location.

• Oral antibiotics include penicillin or other medication containing antibiotics such as doxycycline related to it (beta lactams). Allergic to penicillin will receive a cephalosporin antibiotic or erythromycin, vancomycin.
• Drugs containing mupirocin are effective in treating cellulitis with perianal location (common in children).
• Treatment with intravenous antibiotics including nafcillin, levofloxacin, or cephalosporins.

Outpatient treatment (at home)

       Antibiotics and appropriate skin care are the most important parts of the cellulitis treatment. These recommendations are useful in order to improve the health state and to fasten the cure process.

• Proper administration of antibiotic therapy
• Proper skin care - Good hygiene and avoiding skin lesions are essentials in treating and preventing cellulitis .
• Raising the affected limb to reduce swelling. Apply a saline compress is helpful in reducing pain.
• Apply a warm compress to the affected area.
• It is recommended the use of analgesics (painkillers) in severe cases.
• Also the use of elastic stockings can reduce the swelling.
• Proper legs care, especially in people with diabetes who have an increased risk of infection at this level.
• Prevent possible outbreaks of infection.
• After completing a cellulitis treatment, it is necessary to confirm the absence of the bacteria by doing the right analysis.

Prophylaxis

       Appellant cellulitis is common among people who have certain diseases that affect the skin and provoke edema (accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissue), like fungal infections, diabetes or peripheral arthritis. The next advice is recommended in order to prevent cellulitis:

• People with lower limb edema should wear elastic stockings and maintain proper hygiene of the feet.
• Those who might have recurrent fungal infections should use antifungal creams or other preparations to prevent cellulitis
• People who are at increased risk of cellulitis should use antibiotic to prevent cellulitis. Cellulitis antibiotic prophylaxis is achieved by doses of antibiotic prescripted every two weeks.

Cellulitis prevention

       Avoid skin lesions wearing appropriate protective equipment. If you get hurt, wash the wound with soap and water and watch carefully the healing process. Some wounds have an increased risk of infection - animal bites, stings, wounds that have deeply penetrated, burns or frostbite.