The nurse prepares to care for a male client with acute cellulitis of the lower leg. The nurse anticipates which of the following will be prescribed for the client?
A. Cold compress to the affected area.
B. Warm compress to the affected area.
C. Intermittent heat lamp treatments four times daily.
D. Alternating hot and cold compresses continuously.
Correct Answer: B. Warm compress to the affected area.
Cellulitis is a skin infection into deeper dermal and subcutaneous tissues that results in a deep red erythema without sharp borders and spreads widely throughout tissue spaces. Warm compresses may be used to decrease the discomfort, erythema, and edema. After tissue and blood cultures are obtained, antibiotics will be initiated. The nurse should provide supportive care as prescribed to manage symptoms such as fatigue, fever, chills, headache, and myalgia.
Option A: Cold compresses and alternating cold and hot compresses are not the best measures. Identify aggravating factors. Inquire about recent changes in use of products such as soaps, laundry products, cosmetics, wool or synthetic fibers, cleaning solvents, and so forth.
Option C: Heat lamps can cause more disruption to already inflamed tissue. Patients may develop cellulitis in response to changes in their environment. Extremes of temperature, emotional stress, and fatigue may contribute to cellulitis.
Option D: Bathe or shower using lukewarm water and mild soap or nonsoap cleansers. Long bathing or showering in hot water causes drying of the skin and can aggravate itching through vasodilation.
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