Care of a Child with Cellulitis

Information for parents and carers

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Care of a Child with Cellulitis – PIAG 85 (137kB pdf)

Introduction

Cellulitis is an infection in the soft tissue, resulting in redness, swelling pain and discomfort. This leaflet aims to provide you with information to support you whilst your child is under the care of the Integrated Children’s Community Nursing Team.

It is important that you:

· monitor the cellulitis for any increase in redness, swelling or discomfort

· keep a regular check on his/her temperature with your own thermometer.

· make sure your child has plenty to drink; this may be warm or cold drinks, to stop him/her becoming dehydrated. Offer your child their normal diet but it is usual for them to have a loss of appetite. If your child is reluctant to eat it is important that you encourage him/her to have plenty of drinks

· ensure your child does not play with their intravenous (IV) cannula. Keep it well covered and protected. The nurse will check the IV cannula during each visit. If you do have any problems or concerns refer to the parent and carer guidelines on Home Peripheral Intravenous Therapy and, if necessary, contact the Integrated Chilrden’s Community Nurse.

Your child may have some pain or discomfort around the area of cellulitis. Your child can be given a dose of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain relief as directed on the bottle or the packet.

If your child has any of the listed below symptoms you must contact the Integrated Children’s Community Nursing Team immediately

• your child’s temperature is above 38oC you should give Paracetamol or Ibuprofen as advised by the nurse or as per instructions on the bottle / packet
• your child’s temperature does not come down to below 38oC, 45 minutes after Paracetamol or Ibuprofen has been given
• if your child has an increase in redness, swelling or pain around the area of cellulitis
• if your child is complaining of headaches or feeling unwell
• your child becomes irritable
• your child becomes very pale or mottled with cold hands and feet
• your child starts to vomit
• your child is refusing all drinks and has not passed urine for a period of 4 hours or more during the day

Medication

Your child may be prescribed an antibiotic called: ___________________________________

The correct dose for your child is _____________________________

This needs to be given every ___________hours for ___________________days.

It is important to finish the course of antibiotics.

Your child has been prescribed paracetamol

The correct dose for your child is ____________________________

This can be given every ______________ hours.

No more than 4 doses should be given in a 24 hour period.

Your child has been prescribed Ibuprofen

The correct dose for your child is ________________

This needs to be given every ______________________hours.

Your child will remain a Community patient until 24 hours after their IV antibiotic course has been completed. By this time your child should be almost back to normal with either no or only very slight redness or swelling to the area of cellulitis.

If your child is prescribed a course of oral (by mouth) antibiotics it is important they complete the course.

Usually no hospital follow up appointment is necessary unless requested by the doctor.

It would help us if you write down the following information on the chart provided:

• the temperature of your child and the time it was taken
• the time any medication is given (Paracetamol / Ibuprofen) and how much
• how much your child has eaten or drunk
• if your child has vomited and how much

For further information and advice

Please read the leaflets on High Temperature and Home Peripheral Intravenous Therapy.

Follow all the advice and contact the nurse at any time with any concerns you may have.

Details of how to contact the Community Nurses are in the Integrated Children’s Community Nursing Team leaflet.

Please read the patient information leaflet that accompanies prescribed medication for information and risks and side effects.

This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.

This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.

PIAG: 85