Can cellulitis occur without a wound? Doctor: Serious fear of amputation! Pay attention to abnormal "redness, heat, swelling and pain"
Why can’t the elderly get better after being injured? If “redness, swelling and fever” occurs, please pay attention to the symptoms of inflammation
“I’m hospitalized again, doctor!” An uncle in his seventies with diabetes went to the emergency room for treatment for the third time in the past two years because his left foot was red, swollen, hot, and painful, which affected his daily life. After the examination, it was found that the uncle’s white blood cells and inflammation index were higher than normal. In addition, there were signs of local inflammation in his left foot, and he was diagnosed with cellulitis. My uncle suffers from athlete’s foot and diabetes, and has small wounds on his feet from time to time. No wonder the inflammation never gets better.
Dr. Chen Suyong from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Taipei Veterans General Hospital said that every month he encounters several patients admitted to the hospital due to cellulitis. In fact, as long as you pay attention to the maintenance of your feet, you can greatly reduce the chance of getting the disease. Dr. Chen Surong pointed out that the skin is the largest organ in the body and is responsible for blocking harmful substances, bacteria and foreign bodies from entering the human body and harming health. When the skin is damaged, causing holes in the barrier, pathogenic bacteria invade and cause inflammatory reactions such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the subcutaneous tissue, which is cellulitis.
Can you get cellulitis without a wound? Dry and peeling skin puts you at risk of disease
In fact, the biggest risk factor for contracting cellulitis comes from broken wounds or damaged skin: such as cuts, burns, wounds caused by animal bites; skin diseases such as urticaria, herpes zoster (skin snake) or Psoriasis causes incomplete epidermis, allowing bacteria to invade and cause wound infection.
However, sometimes, some elders will wonder: “I obviously have no skin disease or injury, why do I still get cellulitis?” In fact, it is not necessary to have visible wounds, as long as the skin condition is not good, such as athlete’s foot Conditions such as peeling, dry and cracked skin may cause holes in the skin barrier, allowing bacteria to take advantage of it.
In addition, white blood cells, lymphocytes and other immune substances in the body will circulate with the blood to the inflamed area for sterilization. In modern society, living standards have generally improved. Most elderly people have some degree of civilization diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. If they do not Properly controlled medication can cause vascular fragility, aging, and poor blood circulation in the extremities, which can lead to repeated occurrences of cellulitis.
Worsening of wound inflammation may lead to sepsis and amputation! Doctors urge you to pay attention to “these 5 points” to take precautions
Cellulitis is a disease that may worsen at any time. In severe cases, it may progress to osteomyelitis and even lead to necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis. If it is severe enough, surgical debridement or amputation may be required! Therefore, even if there are only local symptoms of redness in the early stages of the disease, it should not be ignored to avoid an irreversible situation! If you notice any unusual redness, heat, swelling or pain on your body immediately, seek medical advice as soon as possible to prevent problems before they occur.
Dr. Chen Surong also reminded that some elders are hospitalized due to repeated attacks of cellulitis. In addition to repeated infections caused by weak body immunity, it is more likely to come from improper handling of small wounds on the body and damage to their own health. ignore. If an elder in your family is troubled by recurring inflammation, you may wish to pay attention to the following points:
Control metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, avoid deterioration of circulation, and improve one’s own resistance.
Wear shoes and socks to protect your toes from injury, and pay attention to trimming your toenails to avoid paronychia.
Use lotion to moisturize to avoid skin cracks; if you have skin diseases, you should apply medicine regularly for maintenance as directed.
When there is a mosquito bite or cut, the wound should be properly cleaned, bandaged, and the dressing changed regularly.
If you have a chronic wound, disinfect it regularly and take good care of the wound.
