Oral antibiotic treatment for cellulitis

Oral antibiotics are suitable for some cellulitis cases when you are well enough to swallow and absorb medicine and there are no signs of a deeper or severe infection. The prescriber selects a medicine based on the skin findings, allergy history, other illnesses, pregnancy status and medicines you use. Redness can take time to fade even after bacteria are being controlled, but increasing pain, warmth, swelling or spread needs reassessment. A collection may require drainage rather than tablets alone.

Take each dose according to the label and complete the prescribed course unless the prescriber changes it. If you miss a dose, check the instructions or ask a pharmacist rather than taking extra medicine. Tell your clinician about rash, facial swelling, wheezing, severe diarrhoea or repeated vomiting. Rest the affected limb when possible, keep wounds clean and covered, protect the skin from scratching and manage swelling as advised. Never use leftover antibiotics or give them to another person.

Contact a clinician promptly if redness is spreading, pain is increasing, swelling is worsening or you are not improving as expected. Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, severe weakness, rapidly changing skin colour, blistering, red streaks or swelling near the eye. Fever with shaking chills, inability to drink or a serious allergic reaction also needs urgent attention.

Ask how to take the medicine with food or other tablets, what improvement should look like and when a review is needed. Check what to do after vomiting or a missed dose, which side effects are urgent and whether a wound, swelling or fungal problem needs separate care.