Cellulitis physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Physical exam

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may reveal:

• Redness, warmth, and swelling of the skin
• Possible drainage, if there is an infection
• Swollen glands (lymph nodes) near the affected area
• Your health care provider may mark the edges of the redness with a pen, to see if the redness goes past the marked border over the next several days.
• Tests that may be done:
• Blood culture
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Culture of any fluid or material inside the affected area