Who treats cellulitis?

Answer 1

Treatment

Antibiotic treatment is the only way to battle this potentially life-threatening infection. Mild to moderate cellulitis can be treated with the following antibiotics taken every four to eight hours by mouth:

* penicillins (Bicillin, Wycillin, Pen Vee, V-Cillin)

* erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab)

* cephalexin (Biocef, Keflex)

* cloxacillin (Tegopen)

Other medications may be recommended, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) to relieve pain, and aspirin to decrease fever.

A normally healthy person is usually not hospitalized for mild or moderate cellulitis. General treatment measures include elevation of the infected area, rest, and application of warm, moist compresses to the infected area. The doctor will want to see the patient again to make sure that the antibiotic treatment is effective in stopping the infection.

Persons at high risk for severe cellulitis will probably be hospitalized for treatment and monitoring. Antibiotics may be given intravenously to patients with severe cellulitis. Complications such as deep infection, or bone or joint infections, might require surgical drainage and a longer course of antibiotic treatment. Extensive tissue destruction may require plastic surgery to repair. In cases of orbital cellulitis caused by a sinus infection, surgery may be required to drain the sinuses.

Above retrieved from Answers.com

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Answer 2

If you have cellulitis, a skin infection that typically affects the deeper layers of skin, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics you can take at home. Cephalexin is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics and is used to fight bacteria in the body. It works by interfering with the bacteria's cell wall formation, causing it to rupture, and killing the bacteria. Cephalexin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.

Answer 3

Usually a strong antibiotic. Not treating it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis which can destroy muscle, skin and underlying tissue, Remember your heart is a muscle so this can be very dangerous and even deadly!

The antibiotics given depend on the severity of the infection. If oral ones are prescribed it is usually for 10 to 14 days, but if it is severe enough then IV antibiotics are given, usually a 3-5 day dose. Always remember to tell the doc though if you have any Allergies to meds

Answer 4

Antibiotics and rest! It's only a little infection!