Because the bacteria responsible for MRSA often enter the body through a cut or scrape, signs of infection usually appear on the skin first. Typical symptoms of MRSA include a single red bump, or a cluster of bumps, that may be swollen, painful, and warm to the touch. There may or may not be pus. The bumps often look like pimples, pustules, or boils.
In rare cases, the disease can develop into something more serious, like an infection of the bloodstream or
pneumonia. In these cases, MRSA symptoms can include fever, chills, shortness of breath -- and even death.
Once the disease is transmitted, it takes anywhere from 1 to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear. Not everyone who becomes infected with MRSA, however, will have symptoms. These people are called "carriers," and while they may not become sick themselves, they can still infect others.
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