Cellulitis: Breaking The Habit and Good Hygiene

As bad as breaking a bone or burning yourself can be, most consider infections to be worse due to their ability to spread and potentially come back again. Children are some of the most vulnerable people to contracting a virus because they typically have worse hygiene habits and are less knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms. Cellulitis is definitely one of those bacterial infections to watch out for because if left untreated it can lead to more serious issues.

What is cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a deep bacterial infection of the skin that usually occurs after some type of trauma causes an opening in your child’s skin. Typically, the infection involves your child’s face, arms, and legs. In most cases, human or animal bites or injuries that occur in water can also cause infection and immediate treatment can help prevent the spread of cellulitis. In some cases, cellulitis is considered an emergency and your child’s healthcare provider may treat your child in the hospital depending on the severity of their condition.

Symptoms & Causes of Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a tricky infection because many of the symptoms may appear as something less significant. If your child has swollen or warm skin, bruising, chills, a fever, or a red streak from the original site of pain, there is a good chance they have cellulitis. In some cases, cellulitis is considered an emergency and you should consult your child’s healthcare provider if the area affected is causing your child to complain of numbness, tingling, or other changes in a hand, arm, leg, or foot, if the skin appears black, or if the area that is red and swollen is around your child’s eyes or behind the ears.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Cellulitis

The diagnosis of cellulitis is usually based on the medical history and physical examination of your child. Blood and skin samples may also be taken to confirm the diagnosis and the type of bacteria present.

How to Treat Cellulitis?

Specific treatment for cellulitis will be determined by your child’s healthcare provider based on your child’s age, overall health, and medical history. However, treatment may include oral or intravenous antibiotics, warm, wet dressings on the infection site, surgical intervention, and rest.

If your child’s arm or leg is affected, their provider may also have you elevate the extremity and decrease the amount of activity. Also, based on the physical examination, your child’s physician may treat your child in the hospital depending on the severity of the cellulitis. In the hospital, your child may receive antibiotics and fluids through an intravenous catheter.

Complications and Prevention of Cellulitis

Complications can be reduced with prompt and accurate treatment by your child’s provider. The most common complications include meningitis, septic arthritis, and an infection of a joint caused by glomerulonephritis.

To prevent cellulitis, protect the skin from cuts, bruises, and scrapes. This isn’t easy, especially for active kids or those who play sports. It’s best if your child uses elbow and knee pads, wears a bike helmet when riding, shin guards, long pants, long-sleeved shirts while hiking in the woods, and sandals on the beach.

If your child does get a cut or scrape, wash it well with soap and water followed by applying an antibiotic ointment, then cover the wound with an adhesive bandage or gauze and lastly, check the wounds often for the first few days to see if any signs of cellulitis begin.

When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider?

You should contact your provider if any area of your child’s skin becomes red, warm, and painful — with or without fever and chills. This is even more important if the area is on the hands, feet, or face, or if your child has an illness or condition that suppresses the immune system. Also, if your child gets a large cut or a deep puncture wound but most importantly if an animal bites your child, especially if the puncture wound is deep, contact your provider immediately. Cellulitis can happen quickly after an animal bite. Even human bites can cause skin infections too, so call the doctor if this happens.

Afterthought

To recap, cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that often happens in areas where the skin is broken. Because of this, it’s important that your child always washes their hands before and after touching the infected area to make sure it doesn’t get any worse. With that being said, there are only so many at-home options at your disposal which is why Chai Care will always be here to offer top-notch aid!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 10, 2022

Get It Clear: Your Body Is A Machine

It is easy to forget who we are. Or should I say… what we are.

Lack of Clarity

In today’s world, we are surrounded by advanced technology, constant cycles of communication, and never-ending waves of information—true and false. At times, it can be hard to understand our relationship with this modern world but that’s mostly because of our lack of clarity. That is with ourselves.

Of course, as a child having clarity and an understanding of the world is virtually impossible. But as we get older, become wiser, and experience the trials & tribulations of the world, we begin to further understand who we are, how we operate, and the most optimum ways to live a proactive life. When it comes to healthy living you can ask 100 different people and receive 100 different answers but there are certain philosophies of life that will always stay true.

Ghost In the Machine

A term coined years ago but putting it simply—the conscious mind is separate from our physical body. Part of the reason why human beings are such complex creatures is that we are the only beings that have a wide range of emotions—love, anger, fear, and humor, these characteristics have made us incredibly unique, but this has also isolated our species from all the other animals on the planet. But luckily for them, we have discovered and created medicines that will help all of us.

It’s no secret that the greatest gift human beings have invented is medicine. Without such revolutionary cures, we would all still be living in the Stone Age. However true this may be, people forget that our bodies operate and perform just like any plane, train, or automobile. We need fuel, constant check-ups, and rest. Our emotions have convinced us that we are something different, but the hard truth is we need to constantly repair ourselves if we want to live a healthy life.

Engine Check

What an engine is to a car, the heart is to a human being.

Think about all the different parts, bolts, and nuts that help hold a vehicle together, making sure it runs smoothly. Now think of all the different body parts that need to function properly for a person to live a proactive and healthy life. Pretty similar, right?

You are driving along, and suddenly dark smoke begins to billow from your hood. Without hesitation, you begin searching for the nearest body shop to get your car checked by an expert. For some bizarre reason, people don’t always do this with their bodies. Whether it be a headache, wound, or sore throat, most people will ignore it and just wait for the problem to go away rather than receive a diagnosis.

Makes no sense, does it?

The major problem with ignoring your body besides the obvious one of feeling pain is that you are neglecting the option to receive much-needed information.

Sometimes your body is responding the way it is due to an overdue “engine check”. You have been ignoring signals that your body has been desperately trying to show you and if you don’t listen, well, the consequences can be grave.

Optimal Efficiency 

If you want to live a healthy life and see the best results from the way your body performs, constantly check in on yourself. Don’t ignore the signs but embrace them. Yes, it may be a nuisance to your everyday life, but doesn’t that minor inconvenience outweigh potentially life-threatening news?

Be smart, check your body’s engine, and read the signs before it’s too late. Life is fragile and it would be terrible to waste even a moment of it just because seeking medical attention seems unnecessary. These professionals are here to help us, supply advice, and teach us how to live our best lives so make sure to take advantage of it!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.