Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Cellulitis
Have you ever heard of cellulitis? No, it's not the dimpled fat on the legs. That's cellulite. Cellulitis has nothing to do with that. It's a bacterial infection of the skin. It can be very serious, and it is more common than you think.
The human skin has three layers. Cellulitis is an infection that goes to the deepest layer, the subcutaneous layer. Bacteria live on human skin all the time. If the skin is intact, though, bacteria don't get inside the body. If there are breaks in the skin, however, the bacteria can get inside and cause an infection. The two most common types of bacteria that cause cellulitis are streptococcus (strep) and staphylococcus (staph).
Cellulitis is most commonly found on the skin of the face or the lower legs, especially the shins and ankles. However, it can occur anywhere. The bacteria just need a place to enter. Sometimes it's at the site of a bug bite. Sometimes the skin is cracked because it is dry or swollen. Perhaps there's a cut, a wound, or an ulcer. Maybe the person just had surgery, has athlete's foot, or suffers from dermatitis.
