Symptoms & Signs
- Fever
- Signs of infection:
- Chills, shaking
- Fatigue
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Muscle aches, pains (myalgias)
- Warm skin, sweating
- Pain or tenderness in the area with the rash or sore
- Skin redness or inflammation that increases in size as the infection spreads
- Skin sore or rash (macule):
- Comes on suddenly
- Grows quickly in the first 24 hours
- Usually has sharp borders
- Tight, glossy, “stretched” appearance of the skin
- Warmth over the area of redness
Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:
- Hair loss at the site of infection
- Joint stiffness caused by swelling of the tissue over the joint
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosis & Tests
During a physical examination, the doctor may find:
- Redness, warmth, and swelling of the skin
- Swelling and drainage if the infection is around a skin wound
- Swollen glands (lymph nodes) near the cellulitis
Your health care provider may mark the edges of the redness with a pen, to see if the redness goes past the marked border over the next several days.
Tests that may be used:
- Blood culture
- Complete blood count (CBC)
-
Cellulitis : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
-
Cellulitis : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
-
Cellulitis : Treatment
Review Date : 4/17/2009
Reviewed By : Michael Lehrer, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only — they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
