Cellulitis caused by Embrel

What is cellulitis? Cellulitis is a common infection of the lower layers of skin (dermis) and the subcutaneous tissues (areas underneath the skin) caused by a bacterial infection. While cellulitis sometimes develops around wounds in the skin or surgical incisions, in other cases it arises without an obvious source for the bacterial infection. What are the symptoms of cellulitis? Cellulitis usually begins as a small area of pain and redness on the skin. This area spreads to surrounding tissues, resulting in the typical signs of inflammation redness, swelling, warmth, and pain. A person with cellulitis can also develop fever /or swollen lymph nodes in the area of the infection. Who is at risk for cellulitis? Anyone may develop cellulitis. Males and females and people of all races are equally likely to become infected. However, people whose immune systems are weakened for any reason (like poor health or because they are on immune-suppressing drugs) and those with diabetes are at highest risk for developing cellulitis. In my case: I was on Embrel (�tanarcept), an immune-suppression drug so as to treat a form of arthritis called Ankylosing Spondylitis known as AS. Why? Because AS is now know to be an auto-immune system disorder, in short words, some people just have an overactive Immune System. That was my case, and after living 25 years with incredible back pain I wanted to try it. Did the treatment starting in May 2009 and ended it in September. Now from September to ...