Cellulitis is a very common infection of the skin, usually by bacteria. It normally only affects the top layers of the skin.
Cellulitis occurs when there is a sudden infection to the tissue under the skin, by an injury which occurs either through a cut, wound or burn that becomes infected.
Cellulitis can affect any part of the body, depending on which part of the skin the the injury. Cellulitis can affect children as well as adults.
What causes cellulitis
The skin is a great barrier against the bacteria and other micro-organisms that usually live on the skin. They are usually prevented from entering the body and causing an infection.
When the skin is punctured or opened in some way (through a cut, wound or burn), this provides an opening for the bacteria and other micro-organisms to enter and cause infection.
Cellulitis is usually caused by streptococcus and staphylococcus. Two bacteria that can potentially be very serious if not adequately treated.
Certain children are more at risk of getting cellulitis:
- children with an impaired immune system
- children with existing dermatitis and eczema
- children with a history of cellulitis
- being overweight
- injury that opens the skin to allow bacteria entry
- long term swelling of the arms or legs
Symptoms of cellulitis
Cellulitis may affect any part of the baby or toddler’s body (face, eyes, neck, back, chest, arms, legs, anus). Symptoms of cellulitis are:
- Blood stained stools (if the anus is affected)
- Headache
- Itchiness
- Loss of appetite
- Pain when passing stools (if the anus is affected)
- Redness around the anal area (if the anus is affected)
- Respiratory tract infection
- Swelling of the eyelid (if the eye is affected)
- Swelling of the front of face making swallowing difficult (if the face is affected)
- Tenderness or pain in the eye (if the eye is affected)
- Tenderness or pain in any area of the body that’s affected
- Vomiting
- Watery discharge from the nose
Treatment of cellulitis
The baby or toddler needs to see the doctor, especially if the face or eye are infected as this could become very serious, very quickly.
Cellulitis is normally treated with antibiotics (usually penicillin), so parents with children allergic to penicillin need to inform their doctor so another type of antibiotic can be used.
In addition to this, the baby (or toddler’s) pain can be lessened through the following:
- Apply a cool compress on the affected area (if the eye is affected, ensure the baby or toddler closes their eye when this is applied)
Some babies will need to be hospitalised to be treated and monitored appropriately.
Complications of cellulitis
Severe cellulitis and untreated cellulitis can spread to the lymph nodes and blood. This can cause very serious effects.
There are two types of cellulitis that have the potential to be very serious and potentially fatal and must be treated urgently:
- Facial cellulitis – cellulitis of any part of the face
- Orbital cellulitis – cellulitis of the eye
If cellulitis occurs in either the face or eye, these need to be carefully monitored (and treated appropriately) to ensure that the infection does not spread to the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain (cerebrospinal fluid), as it may cause meningitis, a very serious complication.
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is a very severe form of cellulitis and it usually affects the face or lower legs. It is caused by a specific bacteria – streptococci.
Erysipelas can more easily occur if a child already has streptococcal sore throat (which is commonly known as “strep throat”). This can enable the skin infection cellulitis to occur and become quite severe.
It can start very suddenly.
Symptoms
- High fever and chills
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Itchy, inflamed and very red skin
- Blisters that may burst and crust over (forming a scab)
- Lymph nodes may be enlarged
Treatment
Same treatment as cellulitis.
References
- Cellulitis. National Institutes of Health USA. Accessed 30 June 2024
- Cellulitis: Symptoms, causes, treatment and more. DermNet, NZ. Accessed 30 June 2024
- Kid’s health information: cellulitis. The Royal Children’s Hospital, Australia. Accessed 30 June 2024
Last reviewed and updated: 30 June 2024
