Cellulitis or Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the skin that happens in both children and adults.
It most frequently occurs after a skin injury, such as a cut, insect sting, animal bite, or with scratching (for example, with eczema or chicken pox).
It also may occur in intact skin of children who have problems with their immune system.
In most cases of cellulitis, the skin infection is caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal bacteria.
Cellulitis is not contagious.
In cellulitis, an area of the skin becomes red, warm, and painful to the touch. The affected area may also be raised or swollen. There is often a sharp edge where the infected skin meets healthy skin. The affected skin area will get bigger in size as the infection spreads and there may be streaks of redness leading away from the area.
Some children may run a fever and not feel well. The lymph nodes near the affected area may become enlarged, so that they can be seen and felt under the skin.
If treated promptly, cellulitis usually does not cause complications.
In rare cases the bacteria may pass into the bloodstream and cause a blood infection, possibly damaging the internal organs such as the heart and kidneys.
Cellulitis of the skin around the eye, which is more common in children than adults, can be particularly dangerous.
This is called periorbital cellulitis. If this condition is not treated quickly with antibiotics, the orbit (place where the eyeball is) may also become infected (orbital cellulitis).
If you suspect that your child has cellulitis, you should have him checked by a doctor.
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, if she agrees that there is cellulitis. In cases of less serious infections, a course of oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) will be recommended by the doctor.
These should be given as directed. In addition, the affected part of the body should be kept at rest and slightly raised if at all possible to keep the swelling and pain down. The child should also be given pain-relieving medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
A follow-up visit should be scheduled with the doctor a few days after starting the treatment to be sure the condition is improving. It is important that your child complete the antibiotic course as agreed with the doctor.
In more serious forms of cellulitis, the antibiotic must be given intravenously, and often the child will have to be hospitalized.
Taking precautionary measures to prevent your child from getting skin injuries will lower his chances of getting cellulitis.
Make sure that your child uses the right safety gear when playing in sports activities. Keep your child's fingernails trimmed and clean.
If your child ever has a skin injury, be sure to clean and care for the wound carefully.
Children with known eczema are more likely to end up with bacterial skin infections. Help your child to develop good routines for treatment of her eczema.
Make sure that your child uses moisturizers daily to avoid dry and itchy skin.
