Cellulitis Symptoms

Cellulitis symptoms can occur at the location of the infected skin (local symptoms) or they can occur on other parts of the body (systemic symptoms). Symptoms of cellulitis that occur at the location of the infected skin have four common characteristics: redness, warmth, swelling, and pain when touched. Systemic cellulitis symptoms can include fever, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue.

 

Cellulitis Symptoms: An Introduction

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin. Symptoms of cellulitis can occur at the location of the infected skin (local cellulitis symptoms) or they can occur on other parts of the body (systemic cellulitis symptoms).
 

Cellulitis Symptoms: Local

Cellulitis symptoms that occur at the location of the infected skin have four common characteristics, which are:
 
  • Redness
  • Warm to the touch
  • Swelling
  • Painful to the touch.
 
Other common cellulitis symptoms include swollen lymph nodes close to the area of infection or red streak marks up the arm or leg.
 

Cellulitis Symptoms: Systemic

Cellulitis symptoms that affect the whole body may cause a person to experience flu-like symptoms. Common systemic cellulitis symptoms can include:
 
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Fatigue.
 
Not everyone with cellulitis will have these systemic symptoms. However, these symptoms can represent a more serious type of cellulitis.
 

Cellulitis Symptoms and Complications

In rare cases, complications can occur with cellulitis. These complications include:
 
  • An abscess (a pus-filled cavity resulting from inflammation)
  • Toxic shock-like syndrome
  • Spreading of the cellulitis to the heart (endocarditis) or bone (osteomyelitis)
  • Death.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD