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Kids Health Info

Cellulitis

  • Key points

    • Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection.
    • It often happens in areas where the skin is broken, injured, or the skin’s natural barrier is affected.
    • Treatment for cellulitis usually includes antibiotics, rest, and raising the affected area. Pain-relief medicine can help to ease any discomfort.
    • Always wash your hands before and after touching the infected area on your child.

    What is cellulitis?

    Cellulitis is a type of skin infection. It is caused by bacteria – usually Streptococcus or Staphylococcus. These bacteria live on the skin naturally and do not cause any problems. However, when they get under the skin, they can lead to infection.

    Bacteria may get into the body through any break in the skin, such as:

    Cellulitis can also affect skin that seems intact.

    Signs and symptoms of cellulitis

    Cellulitis usually starts as a small, swollen area of skin that is painful, warm, and red.

    This red area will usually spread; your child may start feeling sick and get a fever (temperature of 38°C or more). They may also have swollen lymph nodes near the affected skin – these are glands that help fight infection.

    Your child may also develop blisters on the skin.

    How to care for cellulitis

    See a doctor

    It is important to take your child to see a doctor or other health professional if you think they have cellulitis. Other conditions can look like cellulitis, such as allergic reactions, so a doctor will assess your child and make a diagnosis. Cellulitis around the eye needs careful review by a doctor to make sure the infection is not in the eye socket.

    Antibiotics for cellulitis

    Cellulitis almost always needs treatment with antibiotics. Without medicine, the infection is unlikely to get any better. There is also a risk it will spread to the rest of your child’s body, making them very sick.

    Antibiotics for cellulitis are usually taken by mouth. If your child does not start getting better after a few days, they may need antibiotics directly into a vein through a drip (intravenous or IV). Some hospitals may be able to organise this IV treatment at home.

    Care at home

    Once your child has antibiotics for cellulitis, they need to rest so their body can heal.

    • Try to elevate the infected area if possible.
      • For example, place an infected arm in a sling or prop an infected leg up on pillows. This will help with pain and swelling.
    • Give your child pain-relief medicine if they are uncomfortable.
    • Always wash your hands with soap before and after touching the infected area.
    • Make sure your child completes their full course of antibiotics.

    The redness and swelling around the cellulitis may get a little worse in the first day or two after starting antibiotics. It can be helpful to take a photo or draw a line around the redness to keep a record of how it changes over time. After 48 hours of antibiotics, the redness should have stopped spreading.

    When to get help

    Call an ambulance (000) if:
    • your child has a rash that does not turn skin colour (blanch) when you press on it.

    Go to a hospital if:
    • your child has a chronic illness, such as diabetes, or a weakened immune system (immunocompromised).
    • your child is very unwell with ongoing fevers (temperature of 38°C or more), shakes, or vomiting.
    • your child’s area of redness is spreading very quickly.
    • your child’s area of redness is extremely painful and is stopping them from moving.

    See a doctor or health professional if:
    • your child was bitten by an animal or human.
    • you think your child is getting an abscess under the red skin (lump containing pus).
    • your child’s symptoms do not get better within two or three days of starting antibiotics.

    Look after your child at home if:
    • their symptoms get better within two or three days of starting antibiotics.
    • rest, elevation, and simple pain-relief medicine are controlling their pain.

    Common questions about cellulitis

    Why does my child need to finish their antibiotics if they are feeling better?

    Your child needs to finish their full course of antibiotics to make sure all the bacteria causing the cellulitis are gone. If any bacteria survive, the infection could come back. That is why a course of antibiotics often continues after your child looks and feels better. Most courses of antibiotics usually range from three to seven days.

    Can anyone get cellulitis?

    Anyone can get cellulitis; it is a common infection.

    Is cellulitis contagious?

    Cellulitis is not usually contagious. The bacteria that cause cellulitis commonly live on intact skin; it is only when they get under the skin that they can cause problems.

    Is cellulitis dangerous?

    In very rare cases, cellulitis can spread into the bloodstream and cause a major infection. If this happens, your child will look very unwell, with ongoing fevers (temperature of 38°C or more), shakes, and often vomiting. Young babies and children with long-term health conditions or weakened immune systems are at higher risk of this. If you are worried that your child may be getting sicker, it is very important to seek medical care immediately.

    Are bites treated differently to other causes of cellulitis?

    Saliva from bites – both human and animal – is treated differently to other causes of cellulitis. This is because saliva contains a lot of bacteria, many of which are different from what lives on the skin. If your child has cellulitis from a bite, their wound will need special care from a doctor. They will need different antibiotics.

    If my child gets cellulitis, does this mean they have a weakened immune system?

    Getting cellulitis does not necessarily mean your child has a weakened immune system. Healthy children can get cellulitis if they have breaks in their skin, such as through cuts or insect bites.

    Does my child need to stay home from childcare if they have cellulitis?

    If your child is feeling well, they can attend childcare or school. They should stay home if they are in pain.

    What is an abscess?

    An abscess is when tissue forms a lump that contains a ball of pus (yellow, milky fluid). If your child has an abscess, you will see a lump forming in the infected area with redness around it. Often, an abscess needs to be opened up by a doctor and drained of pus so it can heal.

    How do I prevent cellulitis?

    Healthy skin is the key to preventing cellulitis. You should treat any underlying skin conditions, such as eczema, to improve how well it can keep germs out. When your child gets cuts or grazes, clean them thoroughly with running water and cover them with dressings.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed October 2026

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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