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Clinical features

Authoring team

There is an incubation period of one to four days. Clinical features include:

  • fever, tachycardia, chills, malaise
  • the infected area is red, hot, and tender e.g. red shiny plaque on face
  • local oedema which produces a raised border that is clinically diagnostic
  • the cellulitis spreads rapidly to involve uninfected skin
  • careful examination may reveal an abrasion through which the streptococcus organism gained entry
  • an incision within the infected area exudes a thin pus

Reference

  1. Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jul 15;59(2):e10-52.

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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