Cellulitis overview

Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindvarjhulla, M.B.B.S.

Overview
Cellulitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue underlying the skin, that can be caused by a bacterial infection. Cellulitis can be caused by normal skin flora or by exogenous bacteria, and often occurs where the skin has previously been broken: cracks in the skin, cuts, blisters, burns, insect bites, surgical wounds, or sites of intravenous catheter insertion. Cellulitis results in activation of the body's inflammatory response mechanisms. When the immune system cannot respond adequately, it can spread systemically through the blood stream. The mainstay of therapy remains treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Skin on the face or lower legs is most commonly affected by this infection, though cellulitis can occur on any part of the body. Cellulitis may be superficial — affecting only the surface of the skin — but cellulitis may also affect the tissues underlying the skin and can spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream. The most common causative microbes being Streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus.

It is unrelated to cellulite, a cosmetic condition featuring dimpling of the skin.

Incubation
Cellulitis can develop in as little as twenty-four hours or can take days to develop.It mainly depends on the type of bacteria involved. Bites from animals like dog or cat mostly cause infection with Pasturella multocida. It has very short incubation period of 4-24 hours.

Duration
In many cases, cellulitis takes less than a week to disappear with antibiotic therapy. However, it can take months to resolve completely in more serious cases, and can result in severe debility or even death if untreated. If it is not properly cured it may appear to improve but can resurface again even after months and years. Duration depends upon the general condition of the individual. Person with uncontrolled Diabetes, HIV and other Immunodeficiency conditions it may take long even with antibiotics.