Cellulitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

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Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

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Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, in most cases a doctor from Maple will be able to offer a cellulitis diagnosis by observing your condition and discussing your symptoms. Once you describe your symptoms and the doctor has had a chance to evaluate your condition, they will recommend a course of treatment, including any necessary prescription

If the doctor believes the cellulitis infection is spreading into your bloodstream, they will request that you visit a clinic to have blood tests done.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin, or the soft tissues beneath the skin. Bacteria enter through breaks in the skin and begin to multiply and spread. This leads to an infection, which can become serious if left untreated.

While this is most frequently seen in hands, feet, arms and legs, cellulitis can occur in most other areas, including facial cellulitis.

Common cellulitis symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness
• Redness
• Inflammation
• Warmth
• Red spots or blisters
• Fever or chills
• Blisters
• Leaking clear or yellow fluid, or pus

Typically, cellulitis is caused by an injury that results in a tear in the skin where bacteria are able to enter your body.

Other common cellulitis causes include:

• Foreign objects lodged in the skin
• Post-surgery infections
• Bone infections from exposure due to serious injury
• Long-term skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc.)

In minor infections, a doctor from Maple may suggest resting the area, elevating the infected area to reduce swelling and discomfort, or taking over-the-counter pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to help manage fever and pain.

If the doctor believes the infection is becoming serious, or you’re experiencing recurrent cellulitis, they may suggest a prescription antibiotic to help stop the infection. These are typically given in 7-14 days courses.

Always take a full course of antibiotics if they are prescribed to you, even if you start to feel better after a few days, to prevent the infection from returning.

Yes. While it’s not of the common cellulitis symptoms, in some cases where blisters or pimples form over the infection, the skin can become irritated and itchy.

Preventing a cellulitis infection can be managed by taking steps both before there are tears in the skin where bacteria can enter, and after a tear has formed.

Before an injury has occurred, you can help prevent cellulitis by:

• Practicing good hygiene, washing all high-risk areas regularly with antibacterial soap and water
• Wearing properly fitting shoes and socks, to avoid chafing and blisters
• Wearing protective gloves while using knives or sharp tools
• Not walking around barefoot outdoors

No, cellulitis is not contagious. It’s typically not spread from person to person.

While it is a bacterial infection, because it’s an infection of the soft tissues in the deeper layers of skin, the top layer of skin (epidermis) provides a cover over the infection.