Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses
10:45

Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses

Published on: June 13, 2018

Distinguishing cellulitis from its mimics

Emily C Keller1, Kenneth J Tomecki, M Chadi Alraies

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
|August 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Differentiating cellulitis from similar skin conditions is difficult but essential to prevent antibiotic overuse and treatment delays. Careful patient history and physical examination are key to identifying true cellulitis.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cellulitis diagnosis can be challenging due to numerous mimicking conditions.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial to avoid unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and treatment delays.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges in distinguishing cellulitis from its imitators.
  • To emphasize the importance of clinical evaluation in diagnosing cellulitis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common conditions that mimic cellulitis.
  • Analysis of historical and physical examination findings suggestive of cellulitis.

Main Results:

  • Common cellulitis mimics include stasis dermatitis, lipodermatosclerosis, contact dermatitis, lymphedema, eosinophilic cellulitis, and papular urticaria.
  • No specific diagnostic criteria for cellulitis exist.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical acumen derived from patient history and physical examination is vital for accurate cellulitis diagnosis.
  • Distinguishing true cellulitis requires careful assessment to guide appropriate treatment.

Related Concept Videos

Differential Staining Technique01:26

Differential Staining Technique

Differential staining is an essential microbiological technique that exploits variations in cell wall structures to classify and identify microorganisms. It facilitates the distinction of bacteria, aiding in diagnostic and research applications. Two of the most widely used differential staining methods are Gram staining and acid-fast staining, both of which rely on the chemical and structural differences in bacterial cell walls.Gram Staining TechniqueGram staining differentiates bacteria by...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
Special Staining Techniques01:13

Special Staining Techniques

Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...