The evaluation of cellulitis begins with a medical history and physical examination

Physical findings in someone with cellulitis include:

• Redness of the skin
• Skin swelling
• Skin tenderness
• Skin pain
• Skin warmth

Examples:

• Cellulitis of the face
• Cellulitis of the ear
• Cellulitis of the arm
• Cellulitis of the hand
• Cellulitis of the leg
• Cellulitis of the foot
• Cellulitis of the abdomen
• Cellulitis of the breast

Testing is not usually necessary to make the diagnosis of cellulitis.
Tests that may be used to evaluate cellulitis include:

• Wound culture:
• If there is a break in the skin or discharge from a wound a culture may be performed to aid in the identification of the infecting bacteria.
• Blood cultures
• Complete blood count
• Bone x-rays:
• Useful if you think the infection may have spread to bone (osteomyelitis)
• Useful to detect a fracture.
• Antistreptolysin O titers
• Streptozyme level
• Anti-DNAse level
• Extremity ultrasound:
• Useful to exclude the possibility of a soft tissue abscess.