Guide To The Symptoms And Types Of Cellulitis

Inflammation And Swelling

Cellulitis can lead to inflammation and swelling around the site of the infection. Swelling occurs when an excess of fluid pools underneath the skin, and inflammation is a byproduct of the immune system's response to the infection. When the immune system targets bacteria and other types of infection, the process causes inflammation. The exact area of the inflammation depends on where the infection is and what the immune system is attacking. Patients with chronic autoimmune diseases can experience widespread inflammation even when they don't have an infection like cellulitis. Inflammation occurs when the white blood cells and the byproduct substances they create fight foreign organisms. Some of the most common symptoms of inflammation are redness, swelling in the joints, pain, stiffness, and a loss of joint function. Individuals might also experience feelings of general unwellness due to the body fighting the infection. Inflammation and swelling occur when the immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream and other tissues of the body, helping fight foreign organisms and protect the immune system. The chemicals also increase overall blood flow to the site of the injury.

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Fever And Chills

Fever and chills are also symptoms that occur when the body is fighting an infection. In the case of cellulitis, patients might experience a low-grade fever when the infection is in its initial stages. If the infection spreads to other parts of the body, though, the fever might become much higher. A fever greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a high fever. High fevers that last for prolonged periods can cause severe damage to the body, so patients need to seek medical treatment if they have a high temperature. Like inflammation, a fever is caused by the immune system releasing chemicals into the bloodstream. In the case of fevers, the chemicals involved are called pyrogens. When pyrogens flow to the hypothalamus, they bind to some of the receptors found in this brain structure. Since the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating body temperature, this causes an individual's body temperature to rise. Some researchers believe this may be the body's evolutionary way of killing certain bacteria and viruses that can't thrive in high temperatures.

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