Cellulitis is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the skin on a person’s lower legs, but may also affect the face and other parts of the body. If cellulitis isn’t treated promptly, it has the potential to spread to the bloodstream, a situation that could become life threatening very quickly. Fortunately, however, antibiotics can be used to cure cellulitis. In many cases, an antibiotic cellulitis cure requires a patient to take oral antibiotics for a specific amount of time. If this doesn’t work or a case of cellulitis is particularly serious, a patient may need intravenous antibiotics instead.
Since cellulitis can be deadly, it is important to know its symptoms; this way, an individual can note symptoms early in their development and seek a cellulitis cure right away. Among the typical symptoms of cellulitis are redness, pain, and swelling. Often, a person will experience tenderness and warmth in the affected area as well. A patient with this condition may also note red spots on the reddened areas and may even develop blisters that eventually burst. The reddened area of skin may also spread over time; if an individual develops these symptoms, he is typically advised to seek immediate medical attention.
Oral antibiotics are typically used as a cellulitis cure, especially when the infection is diagnosed early. Often prescription antibiotics are prescribed for up to two weeks, and patients are typically required to see their doctors after two to three days of use. This follow-up visit can help doctors determine whether the antibiotic treatment is working. In most cases, a person can expect to experience symptom relief within just a few days, though he’ll usually have to finish the entire course of antibiotics his doctor prescribed, even if the symptoms completely disappear.
If an individual has taken antibiotics and cellulitis symptoms have not improved, he may need to be hospitalized for a different cellulitis cure. In such a case, doctors will usually keep him in the hospital while they deliver antibiotics intravenously and observe him for signs of improvement. This method of treatment may also be used when a person’s symptoms are severe or accompanied by a high fever.
Cellulitis can affect anyone, but there are some people who are more likely to develop it. An individual who has an injury, such as a cut or burn, may be more likely to develop it because bacteria can easily enter the body through a wound. People who have skin conditions that cause breaks in their skin and intravenous drug users may be more susceptible to it as well. As far as age is concerned, elderly individuals and children are more likely to be diagnosed with cellulitis. Additionally, people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible.