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Cellulitis in children: a retrospective single centre study from Australia.
Elise Salleo1,2, Conor I MacKay1,2, Jeffrey Cannon1,3
1Medical School, The University of Western Australia Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
BMJ Paediatrics Open
|August 2, 2021
Summary
Paediatric cellulitis, common in children under 5 and Aboriginal children, often affects extremities. Facial cellulitis frequently requires hospital admission, with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes being primary causes.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric infectious diseases
- Epidemiology of skin infections
- Microbiology of cellulitis
Background:
- Cellulitis is a frequent cause of paediatric hospital visits.
- Understanding its epidemiology and clinical features is crucial for effective management.
- Tertiary paediatric hospitals manage a significant number of cellulitis cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the epidemiology of paediatric cellulitis.
- To describe the clinical features and common body sites affected.
- To identify causative organisms and preferred treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of paediatric patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Western Australia.
- Inclusion criteria: inpatient and emergency department records from 2018.
- Data collected on demographics, affected sites, microbiological investigations, and antibiotic treatment.
Main Results:
- 302 episodes of cellulitis were analyzed; 68.2% required admission.
- Extremities were the most common site; facial cellulitis was more frequent in admitted patients.
- Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were the predominant pathogens; flucloxacillin was the preferred antibiotic.
Conclusions:
- Cellulitis is a common paediatric condition, with extremity involvement being most prevalent.
- Facial cellulitis is a predictor of hospital admission.
- Aboriginal children and those under 5 years were disproportionately affected; early treatment of impetigo and scabies is key for prevention.
