Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Cellulitis, Pediatric
Cellulitis, Pediatric
Elsevier Patient Education © 2023 Elsevier Inc..
Last revised: October 6, 2023.
Cellulitis is a skin infection. The infected area is usually warm, red, swollen, and tender. In children, it usually develops on the head and neck, but it can develop on other parts of the body as well. The infection can travel to the muscles, blood, and underlying tissue and become serious. It is very important for your child to get treatment for this condition.
What are the causes?
Cellulitis is caused by bacteria. The bacteria enter through a break in the skin, such as a cut, burn, insect bite, open sore, or crack.
What increases the risk?
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Are not fully vaccinated.
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Have a weak body defense system (immune system).
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Have open wounds on the skin, such as cuts, burns, bites, and scrapes. Bacteria can enter the body through these open wounds.
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Have a skin condition, such as a red, itchy rash (eczema).
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Have had radiation therapy.
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Are obese.
What are the signs or symptoms?
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Redness, streaking, or spotting on the skin.
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Swollen area of the skin.
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Tenderness or pain when an area of the skin is touched.
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Warm skin.
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A fever.
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Chills.
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Blisters.
How is this diagnosed?
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Blood tests.
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Imaging tests.
How is this treated?
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Medicines, such as antibiotic medicines or medicines to treat allergies (antihistamines).
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Supportive care, such as rest and application of cold or warm cloths (compresses) to the skin.
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Hospital care, if the condition is severe.
The infection usually starts to get better within 1–2 days of treatment.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
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Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
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If your child was prescribed an antibiotic medicine, give it as told by your child’s health care provider. Do not stop giving the antibiotic even if your child starts to feel better.
General instructions
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Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine pale yellow.
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Make sure your child does not touch or rub the infected area.
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Have your child raise (elevate) the infected area above the level of the heart while he or she is sitting or lying down.
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Apply warm or cold compresses to the affected area as told by your child’s health care provider.
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Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important. These visits let your child’s health care provider make sure a more serious infection is not developing.
Contact a health care provider if:
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Your child has a fever.
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Your child’s symptoms do not begin to improve within 1–2 days of starting treatment.
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Your child’s bone or joint underneath the infected area becomes painful after the skin has healed.
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Your child’s infection returns in the same area or another area.
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You notice a swollen bump in your child’s infected area.
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Your child develops new symptoms.
Get help right away if:
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Your child’s symptoms get worse.
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Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
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Your child has a severe headache, neck pain, or neck stiffness.
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Your child vomits.
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Your child is unable to keep medicines down.
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You notice red streaks coming from your child’s infected area.
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Your child’s red area gets larger or turns dark in color.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
Summary
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Cellulitis is a skin infection. In children, it usually develops on the head and neck, but it can develop on other parts of the body as well.
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Treatment for this condition may include medicines, such as antibiotic medicines or antihistamines.
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Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider. If your child was prescribed an antibiotic medicine, do not stop giving the antibiotic even if your child starts to feel better.
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Contact a health care provider if your child’s symptoms do not begin to improve within 1–2 days of starting treatment.
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Get help right away if your child’s symptoms get worse.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
