Cellulitis and deep venous thrombosis: A rare association

Abstract

A nine-year-old male child presented to us with a history and clinical examination suggestive of bilateral lower limb cellulitis. Investigations revealed leucocytosis, decreased Protein S levels, and growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas in the blood and pus cultures. A Doppler study revealed bilateral lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The child underwent fasciotomies under the cover of antibiotics and the DVT was treated with heparin followed by oral anticoagulation. In cases of cellulitis, DVT should be ruled out, as the clinical features of cellulitis may mask those of DVT, leading to missed diagnosis and serious complications.

Keywords

• Anticoagulants
• cellulitis
• deep vein thrombosis