Infectious cellulitis is, as its name suggests, an acute bacterial infection of the skin that involves the subcutaneous tissue. The affected areas take on a red and inflamed appearance which, in turn, causes pain and a sensation of heat to the touch.
According to some studies, its occurrence rate is much higher in patients over 60 years of age than in other population groups. It is necessary to distinguish this condition from aesthetic cellulite, since the second is nothing more than an irregularity in the thighs and buttocks due to the presence of adipose tissue and certain circulatory abnormalities.
Regular cellulite is a cosmetic problem, while infectious cellulite is a potentially serious health issue. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream, a condition known as “bacteremia,” which greatly aggravates the patient’s clinical picture. We will tell you more below.
Symptoms of infectious cellulitis
In general, infectious cellulitis processes are located in the lower extremities. The United States National Library of Medicine helps elucidate the most common clinical signs. Among them, we find the following:
Fatigue and fever with chills and sweating.
Inflammation and redness of the skin, which becomes more and more evident as the infection spreads.
Lesions and rashes on the skin that appear suddenly in the affected area.
Tight, shiny, ridged skin and warm to the touch.
Muscle aches and joint stiffness, caused by the local inflammatory physiological process.
In general, the affected skin surface has an “orange peel” appearance, with a diffuse-edged rash and the frequent presence of petechiae – small lesions that correspond to red blood cells accumulated by a broken capillary.
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