Quantcast Severe redness and swelling are typical in cellulitis. The skin is usually very warm to the touch. Severe redness and swelling are typical in cellulitis. The skin is usually very warm to the touch. Red streaking may indicate that the infection is spreading. The original superficial skin infection on the thumb is now complicated by deeper tissue infection (cellulitis). Note the red streak going up the arm due to bacterial infection. This image displays cellulitis on the buttock. The outline in pen was drawn when the patient presented to the emergency room. Within a day the skin infection had enlarged and blisters (bullae) had formed. Cellulitis is a serious infection requiring intravenous antibiotics. An outline defining the involved skin in patients with cellulitis is used to track improvement as antibiotics take effect. This image displays cellulitis, a bacterial soft tissue infection, requiring examination by a physician and treatment with antibiotics. This image displays redness typical in the early stages of cellulitis. This image displays cellulitis.
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Cellulitis:
Information for adults

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Picture of Cellulitis: Severe redness and swelling are typical in cellulitis. The skin is usually very warm to the touch. Divider line
Severe redness and swelling are typical in cellulitis. The skin is usually very warm to the touch.
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Overview
Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper skin tissue, which is most often caused by the bacteria Streptococcus or Staphylococcus. These bacteria are able to invade the skin through small cracks (fissures) in the skin, causing the sudden appearance of skin redness, swelling, and the sensation of heat. Cellulitis is often accompanied by fever and chills.

If the infection goes untreated too long, cellulitis can result in pockets of pus (abscesses) or the spread of the bacteria into the bloodstream (bacteremia). However, most cases of cellulitis resolve with appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008

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