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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.
Related Issues
- Cellulitis Infection: Is It Contagious? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Cellulitis: How to Prevent Recurrent Episodes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
-
Group A Streptococcal Infections
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Specifics
- Cellulitis (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
- Cellulitis: How Long Does It Take to Heal on Legs? (Harvard Medical School)
- Erysipelas (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- What Is Cellulitis? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
Images
- Cellulitis (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Cellulitis
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Computed Tomography Imaging Characteristics in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Cellulitis...
- Article: Wells syndrome: emerging triggers and treatments- an updated systematic review.
- Article: A systematic review of tumor necrosis factor-α blockers, anti-interleukins, and small...
- Cellulitis -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Find an Ophthalmologist (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Teenagers
- Cellulitis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Older Adults
- Increased Risk for Serious Outcomes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Patient Handouts
- Cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Orbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Perianal streptococcal cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Periorbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.