It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. In 2019, it was the 83rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 9 million prescriptions. In Canada, it was the fifth most common antibiotic used in 2013. In Australia, it is one of the top 15 most prescribed medications. Medical uses
Cefalexin can treat a number of bacterial infections including otitis media, streptococcal pharyngitis, bone and joint infections, pneumonia, cellulitis, and urinary tract infections. It may be used to prevent bacterial endocarditis. It can also be used for the prevention of recurrent urinary-tract infections.Cefalexin does not treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.Cefalexin is a useful alternative to penicillins in patients with penicillin intolerance. For example, penicillin is the treatment of choice for respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus, but cefalexin may be used as an alternative in penicillin-intolerant patients. Caution must be exercised when administering cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-sensitive patients, because cross-sensitivity with beta-lactam antibiotics has been documented in up to 10% of patients with a documented penicillin allergy. Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It is category A in Australia meaning that no evidence of harm has been found after being taken by many pregnant women. Use during breast feeding is generally safe. Adverse effects
The most common adverse effects of cefalexin, like other oral cephalosporins, are gastrointestinal (stomach area) disturbances and hypersensitivity reactions. Gastrointestinal disturbances include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, the latter being the most common. Hypersensitivity reactions include skin rashes, urticaria, fever, and anaphylaxis.
Although most commonly found in the wrist, ganglion cysts also may occur in the foot.Ganglion cysts are "commonly observed in association with the joints and tendons of the appendicular skeleton, with 88% in communication with the multiple small joints of the hand and wrist and 11% with those of the foot and ankle". Wrist
They commonly are found near the wrist joint, especially at the scapholunate area.Common wrist ganglions include:

dorsal wrist ganglion
volar wrist ganglion
volar retinaculum ganglion
extensor retinaculum ganglion
occult ganglion
intraosseous ganglion
mucous cyst

Foot
In a 2007 study of patients in Glasgow whose foot lumps were removed surgically, 39 of 101 cases were ganglion cysts. The study replicated earlier findings that no ganglion cysts were found on the sole or heel. The authors wrote, "Although lumps in these areas may be ganglia, the surgeon should probably consider other diagnoses in the first instance." The researchers noted a preponderance of occurrence among females (85%) and that 11 of the other cases had been misdiagnosed as ganglion cysts before surgery.Ganglion cysts are not limited to the hands and feet. They may occur near the knee, commonly near the cruciate ligaments, but they may occur at the origins of the gastrocnemius tendon, and anteriorly on Hoffas infrapatellar fat pad. At the shoulder, they typically occur at the acromioclavicular joint or along the biceps tendon. Other
From their common origin at a joint or tendon, ganglion cysts may form in a wide range of locations. Rarely, intraosseous ganglion cysts occur, sometimes in combination with a cyst in the overlying soft tissue.