Lower limb cellulitis: low diagnostic accuracy and underdiagnosis of risk factors

Abstract

Accurate diagnosis and recognition of predisposing factors has been shown to be challenging in lower limb cellulitis. Assessment of 1746 consecutive cellulitis patients presenting to a UK university hospital showed increasing overdiagnosis with only 31.9% of referred patients with confirmed lower‐limb cellulitis between 2015‐2018. Recognition of at least one predisposing factor increased from 61% to 89% following introduction of more specific screening questions. This identified a need for better primary care dermatology education and the benefit of a proforma with specific screening questions for reversible predisposing factors for lower limb cellulitis.

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