Abstract
Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis are soft tissue infections with similarities in their presentation; however they have a very different clinical course. Cellulitis is a superficial skin infection which may result from a cut, bite, or skin puncture or may be associated with a subcutaneous abscess or carbuncle. In contrast, necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially lethal infection of the subcutaneous tissue that, like cellulitis, can present with erythematous skin, swelling, fever, and pain. These earlier signs can be followed by bullae formation, skin sloughing, and tissue necrosis, as necrotizing fasciitis progresses. Evaluation of patients with an apparent skin infection must include consideration of the criteria that distinguish each diagnosis from the other, as necrotizing fasciitis requires hospitalization, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, and early surgical intervention.
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Ratner, J.A. (2014). Cellulitis and Necrotizing Fasciitis. In: Abzug, J., Kozin, S., Zlotolow, D. (eds) The Pediatric Upper Extremity. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8758-6_59-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8758-6_59-2
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