Cellulitis

December 14, 2020Articles2

Cellulitis is a painful bacterial infection in the deep layers of skin including the fat and soft tissue under the skin. Some bacteria are naturally present on the skin and don’t usually cause any harm. However ,if they enter the skin ,an infection named cellulitis occur. Bacteria can enter through cuts ,grazes or bites. It can start suddenly and become if not properly treated.

It could spread from your lymph nodes to blood stream. The spread of infection depends upon how strong is the person’s immune system.

Types –

There are different types of cellulitis depending upon the part of body affected due to infection. Some of the types are as follows –

• Periorbital cellulitis –

It develops around the eyes.

• Facial cellulitis –

It develops around the eyes ,nose and cheeks.

• Breast cellulitis –

It develops over the breasts.

• Perianal cellulitis –

It develops around the anal orifice.

It can develop anywhere on the body including hands and feet. Adults tend to develop cellulitis in the lower leg ,while children usually develop it on the face or neck.

Symptoms –

• Pain and tenderness in the affected areas.

• Redness or inflammation of your skin.

• A skin sore or rash that grows quickly.

• Tight ,glossy and swollen skin.

• A feeling of warmth in the affected area.

• Fever

• An abscess with pus

• Warm skin

• Sweating

• Muscle aches

• Fatigue and dizziness

• Shaking and chills

Following symptoms shows that it is spreading –

• Drowsiness

• Lethargy

• Blisters

• Red streaks

Causes –

Cellulitis occurs when certain type of bacteria enter the skin through a cut or crack. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Bacteria causes this infection.

The infection can start in skin injuries such as –

Cuts ,bug bites and surgical wounds.

Diagnosis –

Your doctor can diagnose cellulitis on physical examination by noticing following symptoms –

• Swelling of the skin

• Swollen glands

• Redness and warmth of the affected area

Treatment –

Symptoms of cellulitis recover after taking antibiotics by mouth for 5-14 days. Treatment prescription also includes pain relievers.

Take complete rest until your symptoms improve. Raise the affected limb higher than your heart to reduce swelling. Cellulitis usually go away within 7-10 days after you start taking antibiotics.

You may need to be treated with intravenous antibiotics in a hospital if you have high fever ,low BP and also when symptoms doesn’t improve with antibiotics.

Ayurvedic Perspective –

As cellulitis spreads like snake , therefore in Ayurveda it is known as Visarpa . Ayurveda believes that it is caused due to vitiation of all the doshas and pitta dosha being the predominant one in it. Predominance of pitta dosha with involvement of rakta dhatu should always kept in mind for treatment protocol of cellulitis.

Line of treatment –

• Jalaukaavacharan –

It is effective procedure for rakta dhatu vitiation.

Wound cleaning –

After Jalaukaavacharan wound should be cleaned with Panchvalkala kasayam after that Jatyadi oil application.

Herbs used –

• Gokshura –

• Punarnava –

• Triphala –

• Turmeric –

• Tea tree oil & coconut oil –

• Grapefruit seed extract –

• Eposm salt bath –

Medications –

• Panchtikta kasaya

• Gandhak Rasayan

• Aarogyavardhini vati

• Ras Manikya

• Kaishore guggul

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