RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenCellulitis
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Contact the prescriber or GP if the skin infection has not started to improve within 2 to 3 days of starting antibiotics.
- Seek urgent advice sooner if redness or swelling continues to spread, pain increases, or fever develops. Do not wait until the antibiotics are finished.
- Get urgent assessment for infection near the eye or nose. If the eye is painful to move, sight changes or the eye bulges, use the emergency advice below.
- Skin colour and swelling can take longer to settle than the infection. Complete the prescribed treatment and keep any planned review.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- Very severe pain, particularly pain much worse than the skin looks.
- Rapidly spreading swelling with blisters, purple or black skin, or rapid deterioration.
- Eye swelling with pain on eye movement, reduced sight or the eye bulging.
- Fever or shaking chills with a fast heartbeat, fast breathing, faintness or feeling extremely unwell.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
Sources
- NHS - Cellulitishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cellulitis/
- NICE NG141 - Cellulitis and erysipelashttps://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng141/chapter/Recommendations
- NHS - Fever in childrenhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
- NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/