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

Summary Accurate diagnosis and recognition of predisposing factors has been shown to be challenging in lower limb cellulitis ( LLC ). Assessment of 1746 consecutive patients with cellulitis presenting to a UK university hospital showed increasing overdiagnosis, with only 31.9% of patients referred during the period 2015–2018 having the diagnosis of LLC confirmed. 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 LLC .