My lower leg is starting to swell,red itchy, what is it, elephant titus?

had athletes foot

My lower leg is starting to swell,red itchy, what is it, elephant titus?
Cellulitis (sel-u-LI-tis) is a potentially serious bacterial infection of your skin. Cellulitis appears as a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot and tender, and it may spread rapidly.





Skin on the face or lower legs is most commonly affected by this infection, though cellulitis can occur on any part of your body. Cellulitis may be superficial — affecting only the surface of your skin — but cellulitis may also affect the tissues underlying your skin and can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream.





Left untreated, the spreading bacterial infection may rapidly turn into a life-threatening condition. That's why it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms of cellulitis and to seek immediate medical attention if they occur.


Signs and symptoms





Cellulitis may result in skin that is:





Red


Swollen


Tender


Warm





The changes in your skin may be accompanied by a fever. Over time, the area of redness tends to expand. Small red spots may appear on top of the reddened skin, and less commonly, small blisters may form and burst.


Cellulitis occurs when one or more types of bacteria enter through a crack or break in your skin. The two most common types of bacteria that cause cellulitis are streptococcus and staphylococcus.





Although cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body, the most common location is the legs, especially near your shins and ankles. Disrupted areas of skin, such as where you've had recent surgery, cuts, puncture wounds, an ulcer, athlete's foot or dermatitis, serve as the most likely areas for bacteria to enter.





Certain types of insect or spider bites also can transmit the bacteria that start the infection. Areas of dry, flaky skin also can be an entry point for bacteria, as can swollen skin.





you have a rash that's red, swollen, tender and warm — and it's expanding — try to see your doctor the same day. If a fever or pain accompanies the rash, or the rash is changing rapidly, seek emergency care. It's important to identify and treat cellulitis early because the condition can cause a serious infection by spreading rapidly throughout your body.


The appearance of your skin will help your doctor make a diagnosis. Your doctor may also suggest blood tests, a wound culture or other tests to help rule out a blood clot deep in the veins of your legs. Cellulitis in the lower leg is characterized by signs and symptoms that may be similar to those of a clot occurring deep in the veins, such as warmth, pain and swelling


This reddened skin or rash may signal a deeper, more serious infection of the inner layers of skin. Once below the skin, the bacteria can spread rapidly, entering the lymph nodes and the bloodstream and spreading throughout your body.





In rare cases, the infection can spread to the deep layer of tissue called the fascial lining. Flesh-eating strep, also called necrotizing fasciitis, is an example of a deep-layer infection. It represents an extreme emergency.


Your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic to treat cellulitis. You'll likely recheck with your doctor one to two days after starting an antibiotic, which you'll take for about 10 days. In most cases, signs and symptoms of cellulitis disappear after a few days. If they don't clear up, if they're extensive or if you have a high fever, you may need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics through your veins (intravenously).





Usually, doctors prescribe a drug that's effective against both streptococci and staphylococci. An example is cephalexin (Keflex). Your doctor will choose an antibiotic based on your circumstances.
Reply:sounds like it could be cellulitis, or necrotizing fasciitis, get thee to a Dr.
Reply:It sounds like you may have the infection traveling up your leg which could lead to a lot of problems. You could develop phlebitis...which is blood clots..or poisoning of some sort. Or cellulitis which is a very serious problem. Go to your doctor immediately. You may have to go into the hospital on I.V. therapy. Good luck...