Cellulitis

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Urgently

• Your skin is painful, hot and swollen
• You have, even mild, symptoms 
• If you have already seen a healthcare professional and have started on treatment but do not start to see / feel an improvement in your symptoms within 72 hours  

Early treatment with antibiotics can stop cellulitis becoming more serious.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

• Symptoms of Sepsis (click here for more information)
• A red/purple rash that does not disappear when pressure is applied (see more info here)
•  a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
• a fast heartbeat or fast breathing
• purple patches on your skin, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin
• feeling dizzy or faint
• confusion or disorientation
• cold, clammy or pale skin
• unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness
• Severe pain
• The red skin is rapidly spreading
• Your shaking uncontrollably (with or without a temperature)

If you experience any of these symptoms, go to the nearest Emergency Department as quickly and safely as possible. You may need to call 999 for an ambulance or consider alternative transport options, such as asking a friend or relative, or using a taxi or ride-sharing service.

Please note: Arriving by ambulance does not guarantee you will be seen sooner. All patients are assessed on arrival, and treatment is prioritized based on the urgency of their symptoms.

• Cellulitis makes your skin painful, hot and swollen. The area usually looks red, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin

• Your skin may also be blistered, and you can also have swollen, painful glands

• Cellulitis can affect any part of your body, including hands; feet; legs (usually lower legs); and eyes – if your face or eyes are affected, you may be asked to go to hospital for review and possibly admission

• Severe cellulitis anywhere on your body observed by a Healthcare Professional, may be referred to the hospital for additional investigation

• IMPORTANT For the first 24-48 hour of antibiotics, the affected skin may get slightly worse, but you should then start to see an improvement. Most people make a full recovery within 7-10 days but the redness may remain the entire time, or possibly longer (weeks). Even if you feel better, it’s important you take the full course of the antibiotics as they’re prescribed

• Patients who suffer with Chronic leg oedema are at an increased risk of Cellulitis and are advised to present to their GP service as soon as they get any, even mild, symptoms of the condition.
  
• If you do not start to see / feel an improvement in your symptoms within 72 hours of starting the antibiotics, please contact your GP service for review.               

• Rest
• Drink adequate amounts of fluid (ideally water) to remain hydrated (this means drinking enough to not feel thirsty)
• Take simple analgesia (i.e. Paracetamol up to 4 times per 24 hours)
• If possible, raising the effected body part on a pillow or chair when you’re sitting or laying down, to reduce swelling. You can purchase a sling from most pharmacies if the infection is in your forearm area, use the sling as a ‘high arm sling’ (How to?). 
• Regularly move the joint nearest to the infection (i.e ankle; wrist) to stop it getting stiff. 
• Avoid wearing compression garments until your infection has improved.  

NHS UK - Cellulitis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cellulitis/