Staph Infection Symptoms

Staph skin infections normally cause a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. Other symptoms may include:

• A skin abscess
• Pus or other fluids from the infected area
• Fever
• Warmth around the infected area

Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin, but they can also burrow into the body causing life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections. Symptoms of a more serious staph infection may include:

• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• General feeling of illness
• Headache

Organ failure and death may result from untreated staph infections, so it's important to contact your health care provider as soon as possible to get a diagnosis.