Expert: Glen Aukerman, M.D. - 4/30/2009

Question
I am 53 and have hereditary lymphedema with light swelling of the lower right leg.  For 30 years I have had recurring cellulitis in the leg.  Often the cellulitis attacks happened quickly with high fever and hospitalization.  Now they are more frequent and less severe.  Currently the cellulitis recurs a week or two after I stop taking antibiotics. I take cephalexin 500 mg every 6 hours when I'm on it.  I have used this medication for over 10 years.  I would like to know what antibiotic you would recommend as an alternative, and any other suggestions you have to eliminate this problem.  I would also like to know if the candida I have is a cause of the cellulitis.  Thank you very much for your time in answering this question.

Answer
Do not have enough information to recommend a specific antibiotic, but alternative could be a floxin.

If you have a candida problem, you are celiac and need the gene test HLA DQ 2.8 and antigliadin IgG and Ig A plus avoid gluten

see: www.medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/integrative for the class schedule