Clinical features

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.