Treatment Overview
The intent of cellulitis treatment is to decrease the severity of the infection, speed up recovery, relieve pain and other symptoms, heal the skin, and prevent the infection from coming back.
Antibiotics are usually used to treat cellulitis. If the infection is limited to a small area, has not spread to the bloodstream or lymph system, and you don't have any other medical problems, antibiotics you take by mouth (oral) are effective. If the infection is more widespread, or if you're having a slow recovery on oral antibiotics, antibiotics may be used intravenously (IV) or by injection.
For cellulitis of the leg or arm, treatment also includes elevating the limb to reduce swelling.
Treatment for children depends on their age and which part of the body is infected. An antibiotic is usually given intravenously. Facial cellulitis in young children requires immediate treatment and responds well to antibiotics.1
SOURCE:
Healthwise
