Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that is commonly induced by bacteria called Staphycocci. The initial symptoms are usually very minor and thus most people tend to ignore them. However, as we shall learn, this may become severe if not contained at the right time.

If you have cellulitis, you may find red blisters developing on your skin. Although this disease commonly affects the legs, symptoms can also spread to other areas of the body such as the face, breasts and nose. In general, cellulitis makes one to feel or appear sickly.

How Do I Know If I Have Cellulitis

~ General Symptoms

In order for you tell if you're suffering from cellulitis, you have to first of all know the symptoms. Some of the systemic symptoms of cellulitis include: nausea, shivering, chills and development of painful blisters of the surface of the skin. Depending on the symptoms experienced, one can judge the magnitude of the infection. For instance, presence of red bumps on the skin is a sign that prompt medical advice ought to be sought.

Additional symptoms are an indication of gross danger and therefore seeking urgent medical advice is very necessary. Some of these symptoms include: rapid spreading of redness to new areas, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, changes in mental state and dizziness.

~Symptoms in children

In children, cellulitis mostly affects the legs, arms, areas around the anus and the face. Redness and swelling are normally widespread and generally lack distinct borders. Infant cellulitis can be very serious due to a weak immune system and thus prompt medical advice is necessary.

~Symptoms in adults

In adults, areas that have previously experienced injuries, animal bite, a cut or a burn are normally much affected. Though in most cases this disease affects the legs, other areas of the body such as the ears and face may also get infected.

One of the local symptoms in adults is pain and tenderness of the skin. Afterwards, other related symptoms such as skin inflammation, swelling of the skin and muscle aches start showing up. Cellulitis is a recurrent disease especially in people with weakened immune systems. Recurrence is common in people with lymphatic system problems and elephantiasis. Other conditions with similar symptoms include shingles and contact dermatitis.

Some Common Cases

~ How to tell when cellulitis affects the eyes

When cellulitis affects the eyes, pain and disturbance of vision are normally very common symptoms. If not treated on time, eye cellulitis can cause blindness or meningitis.

~ How to tell if you're suffering from breast cellulitis

A person suffering from breast cellulites may experience red blisters extending down the shoulder and upper arm.

Just to sum it up, we have identified the following common symptoms: blisters, skin tenderness, skin redness, skin inflammation, swelling of the skin, skin pain and muscle aches as the local symptoms associated with cellulitis. In addition if you've experienced the following symptoms: nausea; chills; fever; shivering; changes in mental state or dizziness, please consult a doctor immediately to confirm whether indeed you're suffering from cellulitis.