Cellulitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, finish all the medication, even if you are feeling better. If you stop treatment too soon, some of the bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
• Rest in bed until the fever is gone, and pain and redness have subsided.
• If the infection is on your arm or leg, keep the limb elevated by placing it on a pillow or chair.
• Use warm water soaks to relieve pain and help healing. Soak a clean cloth in warm water, wring it out a little, and apply it to the affected area. Resoak the cloth often to keep it warm. Apply soaks for about 1 hour and repeat the soaking several times during the day.
• Make an appointment to have your doctor recheck the infected site.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You develop a high temperature or your fever does not disappear with treatment.
• You find a blister on the infected area, see the area of redness spreading, or notice red streaks coming from the infected site.
• The joint or bone underneath the infected skin becomes painful after the skin has healed.
• You develop new, unexplained symptoms.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You feel drowsy and lethargic, or develop vomiting or diarrhea.