Babcock Family Forum

Well, I had a great time in SLC for the holidays. I got back to San Mateo on Monday morning and headed into work. On Tuesday morning I noticed that I had a swollen lump above my left nipple. I didn't think much of it. I thought it might have gotten pinched by my backpack strap. I was hauling a lot of gear back from SLC. By Tuesday night my nipple was a bit worse, still soar and a bit red. On Wednesday morning I noticed that my lymph nodes were swollen and red under each armpit. So I thought I should try and go see a doctor. I called a few during the day but I could only get in. I was thinking that my body could fight off the infection. When I got home on Tuesday night there was a ring of inflamation around my nipple. The infection seemed to be getting worse, so I decided that I needed to go get some antibiotics. I went to the ER that was convientently located within walking distance of my house. The docotor diagnosed it as cellulitus and I was giving some antibiotics told to soak the nipple with a warm rag 4X a day and sent on my way. I was surprised how fast I got in and out of the ER. By Thursday, with the help of the antibiotics, the redness is going away.

cellulitis begins in an area of broken skin, like a cut or scratch, allowing bacteria to invade and spread, causing inflammation, which includes pain, swelling, warmth, and redness.

Disorders that create breaks in the skin and allow bacteria to enter, such as eczema and severe acne, will put a child at risk for cellulitis. Chicken pox and scratched insect bites are also common causes. Cellulitis may also start in areas of intact skin, especially in people who have diabetes or who are taking medicines that suppress the immune system.

Cellulitis can be caused by many different types of bacteria, but the most common are Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. In special cases, other bacteria can cause cellulitis. Cellulitis after a cat or dog bite may be caused by Pasteurella multocida bacteria. Cellulitis due to Pseudomonas infection occurs after nail-puncture wounds through sneakers. Other types of bacteria from fish and farm animals can also cause cellulitis.


Mike - I think you're gonna have to cut back on the farm animals!