• J Halpern, R Holder, and N J Langford.
• Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7PA, UK. James_Halpern@hotmail.com
• Br. J. Dermatol. 2008 Jun 1; 158 (6): 1288-92.

BackgroundAcute lower limb cellulitis is a common yet potentially serious condition. Previous studies have identified risk factors in the non-U.K. population. Ethnicity has been postulated as a possible risk factor but has not previously been investigated.ObjectivesTo identify risk factors for acute lower limb cellulitis in the U.K. population.MethodsOne hundred and fifty consecutive patients with cellulitis requiring hospital admission and 300 controls were recruited to this prospective case-control study. Controls were matched for age and sex.ResultsStrongly predictive risk factors for acute lower limb cellulitis in the U.K. include being of white ethnicity and preceding episodes of injury to the affected leg. No systemic illnesses were identified as increasing an individual's risk of presenting with cellulitis.ConclusionsThis study has identified that patients of white ethnicity are at higher risk of developing acute lower limb cellulitis compared with other ethnic groups. The importance of local risk factors has also been shown in the U.K. population.

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