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Hello XXXXXXX

It is possible to have allergic reactions to antibiotics, but to go into anaphylactic shock is relatively rare when taken orally. If you had a very extreme reaction, you would likely first notice other symptoms such as tongue/mouth swelling and difficulty breathing, at which point it is important to get medical care urgently. But again, this happens less often with oral ingestion of any drug.

In this age of overuse of antibiotics, sometimes doctors forget to recommend non-prescription things. I don't know the degree of infection you have in your toe, but bacterial infections in a distal extremity can often be treated with hot soaks or holding them under hot water (not so hot that it burns your skin though!). This would need to be done several times per day (at least 3 times every day). The hot water causes increased blood circulation and thereby brings more white blood cells to clean up the bacterial infection. It also raises the temperature of the skin making it less hospitable for bacteria to multiply, as most require regular skin or body temperature to do so. So sometimes heat alone can resolve a small infection.

If the infection isn't severe, you might still try the hot water. If you decide to take the antibiotic, you can do both.

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If the infection is in the tissue (rather than joint) and it is somewhat better, try the hot soaks or hot running water. It may clear it up. It can take a few days to do so, but you should notice some improvement in 1-2 days. If there is no improvement at all from the heat, OR if you notice it is getting worse, then start the oral antibiotic. I will assume the infection is not in the joint, as if it were, the doctor would not have given you just a cream to start with.

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Can't see the picture

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Hi - I can't see the picture. Did you use the "Upload Reports" button on the screen?

Thanks

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Yes - I see it now.

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Yes, thanks, I see it now. This looks like a soft tissue infection around the nail.

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Elevation, heat, and taking the antibiotic if that fails is what I would recommend. Or, if you want to take the antibiotic, then add that on to the elevation (when possible) and heat.

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You should be ok with it.

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Ok - it should be safe. Allergic reactions are more typically a rash, and if that happens, stop taking it and take an antihistamine.

Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD

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