Tattoo artist Layane Monize Botosso, 26, never imagined that a wound on her face, similar to a pimple, might take her to the hospital for 11 days. The brasiliense was diagnosed at the end of February with infectious cellulitis, a relatively common condition, but which can lead to serious conditions when not diagnosed and treated correctly.
“The doctor said that if I hadn’t gone to the hospital, it might have gotten worse at home, which would have resulted in more serious consequences,” remembers Layane.
The condition, also known as bacterial cellulitis, is different from common cellulitis. It is the result of inflammation caused by bacteria that manage to reach the deeper layers of the skin through a small wound caused by an insect bite, dermatitis or mycosis lesions, following surgery or even scratching the skin.
“No matter how light the wound on the skin is, it can become the gateway for bacteria”, says ophthalmologist Danillo Almeida de Carvalho, from Santa Lúcia Hospital and Visão Hospital de Olhos and Ophthalmology and Specialties Clinic (COE) , in Brasilia.
skin lesions
The doctor explains that by rubbing the skin, we damage its integrity. The use of makeup or dirt on the hands are factors that increase the risk of infections of this type. Furthermore, bacterial cellulitis is more common in patients who have immunosuppression, diabetes or lymphatic problems.
Layane doesn’t know exactly what triggered her condition. She noticed a sore near her eye when she woke up on the morning of February 25th, but at first thought it might be a pimple or a stye.
“I have a lot of agony to bring my hand to my face, but I must have scratched it. I found it strange because I’ve never had pimples there. I went to research what it might be, but I really didn’t imagine it was that serious, ”he recalls.
The next day, the tattoo artist woke up with a swollen eye and a lot of pain in the region and head. Vertigo when standing up was decisive in making her seek medical advice. At the hospital, the diagnosis of infectious cellulitis came following a tomography and laboratory tests.
“The doctor recommended hospitalization because it was on the face, with the risk of going to the eye, a very dangerous place. It was a very big scare. We never expect to experience a problem like this”, he says.
serious risks
The most frequent symptoms of infectious cellulitis are redness, pain, tissue swelling and heat at the injury site. The patient may also experience fever and malaise.
When the problem is not properly diagnosed or treated, the bacteria can spread quickly and the condition develops into a generalized infection, with the risk of meningitis and blindness. However, such cases are infrequent.
During the period she was hospitalized, Layane was medicated with intravenous antibiotics that managed to reverse the condition. The Brazilian was discharged last Thursday (9/3), following 11 days of hospitalization.
She is due to undergo a minor surgical procedure in the coming weeks to drain the buildup of pus that has formed internally in the wound. The skin remains reddened, looking like a burn.
Prevention
Infectious cellulitis can be prevented with simple habits, such as keeping your hands clean and removing makeup before bed to prevent it from accumulating around your eyes.
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