dermatologic disorders
Cellulitis
Introduction
Cellulitis is acute bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue most often caused by streptococci or staphylococci. Symptoms and signs are pain, warmth, rapidly spreading erythema, and edema. Fever may occur, and regional lymph nodes may enlarge in more serious infections. Diagnosis is by appearance; cultures may help, but treatment with antibiotics should not be delayed pending those results. Prognosis is excellent with timely treatment. (See also Overview of Bacterial Skin Infections .) 