Question

What are the 6 clinical clues that allow you to distinguish cellulitis from myonecoriss and necrotizing fasciitis?

Answer 1

The 6 clinical clues that allow you to distinguish cellulitis from myonecoriss and necrotizing fasciitis are pain, inflammation, systemic symptoms, crepitus, systemic findings, and tissue necrosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical clues that allow you to distinguish cellulitis from myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis are as follows:

1. Pain: Cellulitis is generally accompanied by moderate pain, while myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis cause severe and excruciating pain.
2. Inflammation: Cellulitis causes localized redness and swelling, whereas myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis cause rapid spread of erythema and edema beyond the initial area of infection.
3. Systemic symptoms: Patients with myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis often experience high fever, chills, and malaise, while these symptoms are less prominent in cellulitis.
4. Crepitus: The presence of crepitus (a crackling sensation) on palpation indicates gas production by anaerobic bacteria, which is indicative of myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis.
5. Systemic findings: Laboratory tests may reveal leukocytosis with left shift (increase in immature white blood cells) in myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis, whereas cellulitis typically shows less pronounced changes.
6. Tissue necrosis: The hallmark of myonecrosis and necrotizing fasciitis is rapid tissue destruction and necrosis, which is not present in cellulitis.