clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

There is an incubation period of one to four days. Clinical features include:

• fever, tachycardia, chills, malaise
• the infected area is red, hot, and tender e.g. red shiny plaque on face
• local oedema which produces a raised border that is clinically diagnostic
• the cellulitis spreads rapidly to involve uninfected skin
• careful examination may reveal an abrasion through which the streptococcus organism gained entry
• an incision within the infected area exudes a thin pus