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Original poster

Cellulitus-does anyone know if it ever goes away?

15 replies

katie37 · 18/07/2004 00:29

My dad has had 4 episodes of cellulitus [I think it is spelt like that] over 3 years.

He has it in left leg below the knee. It is a bateria that infects the soft tissue/muscle/skin.It is like ulcers sort of.

Anyway he is in hospital since having temp of over 104 yesterday and becoming delirious. He is now on IV strong anti-biotics and fluids.

Does anyone know if it will ever go away completly or whether it will come back every several months?

OP posts:
lou33 · 14/07/2004 08:47

Dd1 had it about 9 years ago after an eye infection, and it spread to her cheek. Anti biotics cleared it up and she hasn't had it since.

mrsflowerpot · 14/07/2004 09:19

my dad has had this too, recurred for years and he ended up in hospital on iv antibiotics a couple of times. It's under control now. He wears the support stockings to stop fluid retention - was taking water tablets for this but his mobility isn't good (unrelated) so getting to the loo more often was a problem - and they seem to be working. Also Eurax cream for when it's itching.

suedonim · 14/07/2004 13:09

Katie37, this thread is useful to me as well so thank you for starting it. My MIL had cellulitis in a leg earlier this year and finally got it cleared up. But she had a fall at the weekend and now her other leg has developed it, where it was injured. She's in hospital, not sure if she's getting IV a/b's or tablets. (We don't live nearby so haven't seen her).

What type of honey did the nurse recommend? MIL is quite 'alternative' so she'd probably take something like that.

Btw, my great-uncle had cellulitis in his ankle, way back in the 1960's. He lived in Africa and it was very difficult going back and forth to London for treatment. He got so fed up with it that he asked the surgeon to 'Amputate the bugger and be done with it.' The surgeon obliged, Uncle John had a false leg fitted and never looked back!!! I don't think it's to be recommended though.

CountessDracula · 14/07/2004 13:33

I had no idea it reoccured - I had it years ago (1990 I think) on my foot after a bite too. It has never come back and I am immuno-compromised due to the drugs I take for Crohn's disease. It went red up to my knee and I had to sit with leg up on cushions for a few days and take antibiotics. There was then a spectacular vesuvius style pus eruption from foot and it was all gone. (sorry)

I hope it goes away soon katie37

edam · 18/07/2004 00:37

Depends what's causing it; you can have an acute episode caused by a specific insult (I had it as a result of a horse-fly bite) but in patients whose immune system is compromised (many elderly people, for instance) I think it can recur and be difficult to treat. I'm not an expert though so could be more complicated than that. They need to find the right antibiotics to treat this infection. And then look at underlying causes... but I don't know much beyond that, sorry.
Hope your dad's much better soon, infections can be miserable things.
HTH

prufrock · 18/07/2004 01:25

dh had this in his leg after a very bad football tackle. 2 years later he got a cold, and ended up in hospital again with cellulitis. The doctor did say to be careful anytime he was ill and to go to the doctors if he noticed any temperature in the leg - he seemed to imply it would be a lifetime thing I'm afraid, which could re-occur whenever he gets any infection.

Original poster
katie37 · 18/07/2004 01:51

Thanks edam and prufrock for the replies. It started after a bang to his leg 3 years ago,

The prob is made worse in that he had had both hips replaced, one twice as he got MRSA in it. He is now and has for some time been free from MRSA

He also had a prob with circulation in legs so had veins operated on.

I will tell him that he should indeed be on the lookout for it whenever he feels ill.

Thanks for your replies, at least the hospital are giving him IV anti-biotics.

OP posts:
Caroline5 · 19/07/2004 01:00

My dad has had this quite a few times in recent years, he initially got it following an insect bite on holiday in Scotland in his 20's and ended up in hospital with it. His GP recently recommended that he wears a kind of support stocking (!) on his lower leg every day as well as using a cream (I'll find out what) which has worked well and he's had no attacks since. (Touching wood)

Original poster
katie37 · 19/07/2004 02:32

Thanks Caroline that would be great to know. The Staff Nurse told my mum today to give him YALKAULT Yoghurt and a spoon of special expensive honey each day.

He is still on IV ab. He still had his leg in a tight bandage as a result of the really bad attack which was last Sept (nearly a year ago). He ended up having maggots (YUCK) put on in the hospital last time and it worked.

OP posts:
Original poster
katie37 · 19/07/2004 02:37

Thanks Caroline that would be great to know. The Staff Nurse told my mum today to give him YALKAULT Yoghurt and a spoon of special expensive honey each day.

He is still on IV ab. He still had his leg in a tight bandage as a result of the really bad attack which was last Sept (nearly a year ago). He ended up having maggots (YUCK) put on in the hospital last time and it worked.

OP posts:
Caroline5 · 19/07/2004 21:42

Yuck at the maggots !! Will give my Dad a ring soon and try to find out what the cream is. (Have the times gone wrong on this thread - I'm sure I wasn't posting at 1am this morning!)

twogorgeousboys · 19/07/2004 21:53

I developed cellulitis in my abdomen the day after my emergency c-section. I was very ill indeed and it took a while for the doctors to get the infection under control.

Interestingly, the doctors were very up front about the fact that I got the infection through surgery - I was grateful for their honesty.

Haven't had any problems since - that was a year ago.

Caroline5 · 27/07/2004 21:52

Hi katie37, did finally remember to ask my Dad about the cream. It's something called Cetraben which can be bought over the counter. It's just an emollient but apparently keeps the skin in good condition and helps to prevent infection. The support stocking is because my Dad also has varicose veins and apparently these are also a good way of the infection getting into the leg. How is your Dad now?

californiagirl · 28/07/2004 21:28

My father has had cellulitis twice and flesh-eating bacteria (which are basically a version of the same thing) once. The three incidents are unrelated though. One was a spider bite, one was an infected blister, and the flesh-eating bacteria (in his armpit) nobody knows what the original injury was -- perhaps a nick from the edge of his deodorant. On the one hand all the Dr's say this is just coincidence. On the other hand, while he was recovering from the flesh-eating bacteria, he got a nasty pimple, and we called the Dr, who agreed that it sounded like a nasty pimple, but felt that it ought to have medical attention. So he is now the only person we know who has had a plastic surgeon and an infectious disease specialist take care of a pimple. The pimple cleared up beautifully though, and both doctors agreed that it was both ludicrous and entirely the most sensible course of action.

lexie69 · 24/12/2007 18:39

Hi,

I have had cellulitis about 70 times in the past 5 years. I have an ulcer which messures 10cm x 10cms, i have been on Co-Amoxyclave and Erothoped for the past 4 months. Every time i go to come off these antibiotics then i get another bout of it. I have been told that because i have had so many infections in my leg now my leg will never be the same, is this true? I know its very very painful and i have a contstant temp of 37.7 and above. I dont seem to be getting any better, i have refused to go into our hospital now as the hospitals now i feel are dirty and i have picked up so many infections including MRSA. I have told my doctors and nurses now that if they want to treat me with any IV's then they have to do me at home. Thankfully now nurses are going on courses to put in IV's at home. If any one knows if my leg is very damaged now due to the infections please could you let me know. Many thanks

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