Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin. Most cases can be treated with antibiotics at home, although sometimes it needs to be treated in hospital. It can be serious if not treated quickly. It can occur at any age.
Please see Red-Amber-Green tables for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.
Symptoms of cellulitis
Cellulitis causes an area of skin to suddenly become:
Red
Hot
Swollen
Painful
Tender
There may also be a break in the skin, although this is not always obvious, and pus or blood-filled blisters. Your child can also have swollen painful glands.
Any part of the body can be affected. The commonly affected areas include lower legs, feet, arms, or hands, and sometimes the face particularly around the eyes. See your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit as soon as possible if an area of your skin turns red, painful, or hot.
Additional symptoms
Cellulitis can also cause extra symptoms that may develop before or alongside the changes to your skin.
These can include:
Feeling generally unwell
Feeling sick
Shivering
Chills
Occasionally the infection can spread to other parts of the body such as deep layers of tissue, blood, muscle and bone. It is important to get help quickly if you are worried.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
Orbital (of the eye) cellulitis
Painful or restricted eye movement
Unable to see properly
Eye bulging or severe headache
A temperature less than 36oC or temperature 38oC or more if baby is less than 3 months
Breathing very fast or breathing that stops or pauses
Becomes pale, blue, mottled and/or unusually cold to touch
Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
Weak, high-pitched, continuous cry or extremely agitated
Has a fit (seizure)
Develops a rash that does not disappear with pressure and seems unwell (see the 'Glass Test')
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999-consider using ‘What 3 words’ to best describe location to ambulance service
If you child has any of the following:
Face or the area around the eye is affected
Increasing pain or tenderness
Worsening/spreading red area
A temperature 39oC or above in babies 3-6 months
Temperature of 38oC or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
Swelling of a limb or joint
Too painful for your child to stand
Complaining of severe pain that is not improving with painkillers
Dry skin, lips, tongue or looking pale
Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 12 hours
Sleepy or not responding normally
Crying and unsettled
Poor feeding (babies) or not drinking (children)
Getting worse or you are worried about them
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or contact NHS 111 - dial 111 or for children aged 5 years and above visit 111.nhs.uk
If none of the above features are present
Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms.
Additional advice is also available for families for help cope with crying in otherwise well babies.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, contact NHS 111 – dial 111 or for children aged 5 years and above visit 111.nhs.uk
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This guidance was last reviewed 27/06/2025.
Causes of cellulitis
The bacteria that cause it often live harmlessly on the skin, but they can lead to an infection if they get into a break in your skin, such as:
In most cases the trigger for the infection is unknown.
The infection isn't normally spread from person to person.
Treatment
Cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics at home. Most children will make a full recovery.
Your child will usually be given a course of treatment, and symptoms should start to improve after a few days.
Make sure to complete the whole course of medicine you've been given, even if your child is feeling better. Contact your GP if symptoms get worse after a few days or don't improve within a week.
For serious infections, treatment is usually started in hospital. Your child will be given antibiotics directly into a vein through an injection or a drip for this.
As well as taking antibiotics for cellulitis, you can help speed up your recovery by:
