Cellulitis Nose
Important Information About Cellulitis of the Nose
Cellulitis of the nose is an infection caused by a number of different bacteria; this infection also affects the tissue below the skin. If someone has this skin infection it will spread to other tissue, infecting the healthy tissue in areas around the original infection.
Although there are several types of bacteria that can cause cellulitis of the nose, Streptococcus is the most common strain of bacteria found in this infection. Streptococcus bacteria will spread very quickly due to the fact that the enzymes of these bacteria prevent the body from containing the infection.
Cellulitis of the nose due to Staphylococcus bacteria may occur after a bite from an animal or human; an injury in water or dirt could also result in this type of infection. The bacterium enters the skin through a break in the tissue caused by injury. If the injury swells with fluids it is even more likely that the bacteria will be introduced to the body and result in cellulitis of the nose. This bacterial infection is more common in people that tend to have poor blood circulation.
Although it is more likely that you can develop cellulitis of the nose due to an injury to the tissue, you can also develop this infection even when there doesn’t appear to be any type of injury.
Symptoms that are associated with cellulitis of the nose include skin that appears to be red, and the area of redness will be tender when touched. After these first symptoms appear, the next symptoms to watch for is swelling, plus the skin will take on the texture of an orange peel and feel hot to touch. Blisters may also form on the infected skin.
Although it is not common, some people that develop cellulitis of the nose will have additional symptoms like a fever, headache, low blood pressure, chills, and a rapid heart rate. There might also be a sense of confusion due to the fever and the infection. If the infection is allowed to spread the lymph nodes will become infected and swollen, plus it is possible for the infection to enter the blood, which can be a serious danger to your health.
To treat cellulitis of the nose it is necessary to see a your doctor. The doctor often makes a diagnosis after he or she evaluates the infected area. In most cases further tests are not needed unless you fail to respond to the antibiotic therapy prescribed by your doctor.
Getting treatment as soon as possible is important to keep the infection from spreading. If the infection is left untreated it could spread through the blood to other areas of the body, including internal organs and the brain. This can be a real danger with cellulitis of the nose, especially if the rapidly spreading, Streptococcus bacteria has caused the infection.
If treated promptly, people with cellulites of the nose can take antibiotics at home to cure the infection, but if the infection begins to spread rapidly, causing fever and other problems, an IV of antibiotics may be necessary.
Within a few days of starting treatment with antibiotics the symptoms will start to improve, though with this type of infection you can expect the symptoms to actually get worse before you see an improvement, even while taking antibiotics. The reason for this is that when the bacteria dies, it will release a substance that causes further tissue damage, but this should improve quickly as your body begins to heal.
If you have symptoms consistent with cellulites of the nose, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible so that you can get a diagnosis and begin treatment.