What is cellulitis of the hand?

Picture this, you and your friend just knocked out that 10-page midterm paper in record time. As an act of celebration, you decide to give each other a high-five. Little did you know, that one physical interaction could lead to the onset of cellulitis of the hand. Bet you didn’t think getting an A would come with such dire consequences.

What is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis (not to be confused with cellulite which we all have and love) is a bacterial skin infection caused by two main culprits- Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus, depending on the severity it can spread through our bodies faster than gossip at a middle school sleepover party.

Signs and Symptoms

“Owww my hand!” – said every person who has experienced cellulitis, has symptoms akin to everyone’s favorite childhood game red rover- “redness…warmth… ouch.” Redness, warmth, pain, swelling, fever? Yep! These are signs your body is ready for war against bacteria invading its turf.

But don’t mistake these symptoms for being indecisive about what its fighting off like that girl from Tinder saying ‘IDK’ when asked where she wants to go eat. The telltale sign distinguishing cellulitis from other infections is how fast it progresses, like those pre-med students rushing into class before anyone else arrives.

Cause(s)

There are many ways someone can pick up this pesky intruder but some examples include penetrating injuries (such as IV drug use), wound healing issues (like what elderly people experience after falling), bites/stings (it’s hard not getting snapped while feeding your pet crocodile Steve-I get it). In summary: germs wait around every corner like shoddy used car salesmen.

What is Cellulitis of the Hand?

If you haven’t guessed already, cellulitis of the hand is just like normal cellulitis but only impacting your mitt. This type of infection causes swelling and redness on top or underneath the skin (where you can’t see it, sorry acrylic nail enthusiasts).

How do I know if I have it?

Well first off, DO NOT rely entirely on WebMD- trust me! Regardless if your unverified online search results say it’s just an irritation from applying too much sanitizer- seek medical attention because this bacterial invasion requires a prescription-strength antibiotic to remove those handsie nasties.

How Does It Spread?

As bacteria spreads faster than rumors about Leo DiCaprio’s love life, good hygiene practices must be a priority. Although not extremely contagious in nature, someone with cuts/open wounds should avoid high-fiving strangers for now.

High-risk individuals:

We are all susceptible to disease but certain people may acquire infections more easily or experience severe complications such as spreading into other parts of their body:

Risk Group Details
Athletes While sports are fun they also come with risk factors-substances identified by American Society for Microbiology include turf burn/general abrasions. A winning goal could mean tragedy later
. Elderly Individuals
IV Drug Users Picking needles/bacteria-infested objects up from random places will make even Donatella Versace shudder at its contagion level
People with Weakened Immune Systems Auto-immune disorders/Kaposi sarcoma can increase susceptibility

If you fall into any aforementioned category take caution and practice safe measures against harm.

Treatment

Effective treatment involves oral antibiotics if it’s a mild to moderate infection, however if infection is severe hospitalization may be necessary. Prevention of recurrence should involve maintaining proper hygiene and not reusing bandages/ antibacterial creams excessively.

A Few Things to Avoid During Treatment:

  • Popping any blisters(try resist temptation like trying to get just one cookie out of the jar).
  • Neglecting rest at home or hospital depending on severity(hibernation is a major key when treating this particular ailment).
  • Taking oral antibiotics as directed (not taking pills are equivalent to signing up for post-treatment bacterial invasion round 2: electric boogaloo.)

Symptoms should start alleviating within the initial 48 hours but don’t stop treatment until course completion even if your hand looks cleaner than your shirts from college.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cellulitis can affect anyone regardless of socioeconomic status/beauty regime habits/IQ level because bacteria knows no bounds. Through exploring cellulitis in its various forms we’ve come together with knowledge that will benefit us all! But most importantly takeaway message: high-fives require great caution AND ladies/gentlemen/persons/non-binaries stricken by cellulitis receive two thumbs down from everybody involved with this article. Until next time friends, stay safe(one sanitized/plastic enveloped)hand at a time!

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