Infection in my arm, should I take the antibiotic?

[Deja Q]

Started with a bad case of eczema that I scratched... now there's an infection requiring an antibiotic.

So far, there is a pain deep within my arm, the area where I scratched is dark red, with a surrounding and expanding light pink area. The light pink area is starting to spread downward as well, toward the elbow. So I know there's an infection spreading in my arm.

What will happen if I don't take it?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. What will happen? Loss of the arm, infection in the heart, death

Stuff like that.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. take the antibiotic

If you don't..I will KILL you. }(

[enkidu2]

3. sounds

like cellulitis, an infection of the soft tissues beneath the skin, it does not like to stand still and will spread if you dont take them

[grasswire]

4. listen up

Blood poisoning. You may have blood poisoning. Color spreading down the arm is a significant sign of it.

Blood poisoning can kill you.

[grasswire]

8. go look at this picture

http://www.davidlnelson.md/Infection1_ascending_lymph.htm

[Deja Q]

11. Not that bad right now then

ascending lymphangitis (the red line going down the arm) is not present. Just the pink blotchiness and red spot of the origin.

Yup, I may as well pop the pills.

I'll deal with the carpal tunnel tomorrow. :D

[Maddy McCall]

5. YES, GET AN ANTIBIOTIC NOW!

Once I was working in the garden and something either bit or pricked my finger. The next day, it was obviously infected. Two days later, my fingers had doubled in size, and a red streak progressed from my hand up to my elbow and into my upper arm.

Husband took me to the ER and joked with the doc "Well, it looks like you're gonna have to cut off her hand."

Doc responded, "If you would have waited an additional day, I would have had to."

End result: massive antibiotics through hypodermic in the ER, Augmentin at home, and visits to plastic surgeon to cut out infection in my hand.

Don't mess around with infections.

[GainesT1958]

6. Good Grief--Take it...PLEASE!

I just went round-and-round (verbally, that is!) with my father about the same kind of thing. He had four pre-cancerous moles removed from his right forearm, and he didn't take the antibiotics his doctor prescribed regularly. he had to go to the e.r. after it swelled up the size of a canteloupe! x(

He's learning the hard way that you CANNOT mess around when something like that even STARTS to happen--take 'em, and take 'em ASAP!!!

B-)

[DemoTex]

7. See an MD, stat!

Do you live under a rock? Have you not heard of the flesh-eating bacteria and nosocomial infections? Get a medical opinion, and an appropriate prescription. Else you may never pitch agan.

[Deja Q]

9. I did - yesterday

I also got to see more of what the shrink had written in his report, with my doc also telling me that there aren't any psychologists/psychiatrists closer. (um, those quacks are 40 miles from home, yes there are quacks closer and I have enough reasons to despise the medical industry as it is.)

But I digress. I'll get the meds and take them.

I wish they'd find a cure for eczema though and stop prescribing the oily ointment that does nothing to soothe the itch. :-(

[enkidu2]

12. you

you cant get nosocomial infections (by definition) unless you get them in the hospital

[DemoTex]

13. Oh yes you can!

Nosocomial means "hospital acquired." But nosocomial infections - meaning more precisely antibiotic resistent - are to be found far from the septic wards of the hospital.

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. go see a doctor, NOW

My husband poked himself with a syringe needle while vaccinating our llamas - just a teeny, tiny poke, but he ended up in the hospital for five days as a result.

Get your ass in to the E.R. Don't just rely on the antibiotics you were already given if the doctor has not seen you in your current condition. You might need something more aggressive at this point.

This is not something to eff around with.

And you know I'm serious if I don't take the time to find an appropriate smiley to tack on here.