clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
There is an incubation period of one to four days. Clinical features include:
- fever, tachycardia, chills, malaise
- the infected area is red, hot, and tender e.g. red shiny plaque on face
- local oedema which produces a raised border that is clinically diagnostic
- the cellulitis spreads rapidly to involve uninfected skin
- careful examination may reveal an abrasion through which the streptococcus organism gained entry
- an incision within the infected area exudes a thin pus