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Having HIV And Stints Are Put In Heart. Neck Lymph Nodes Are Swollen. Took Diflucan. No Improvement. Treatment?
Question: This has doubled in size in a 24hr period. Its located on my boyfriends buttocks. He has HIV but been in remission. He has many meds he takes. He also started new meds 7wks ago, serostim. Please help me with this and have a doctor get back to me ASAP. What do you think this is? This is from day 1 to today. My boyfriend has HIV and has had stints put in his heart. He has had 2 surgeries. He is on many HIV drugs and has been for 24 years. His neck lymph nodes are also swollen and have been for 2 wks. His doctor put him on diflucan and that has not worked. He also has spots on his face and arms that look abnormal. He has been on serostim for 6 wks.
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back and uploading such clear resolution pics.
The lesions seem to be due to bacterial infection of hair follicle( boil).
the treatment in your partner's case should be
draining the big pus filled lesion by puncturing the pus filled blister with sterile needle or aspirating pus from it using sterile syringe. This will relieve pressure and pain in area. This should preferably be done by a doctor. If it has to be done at home, then should be done by cleaning the area with betadine and spirit and wearing gloves or after washing hand.
warm water compresses of the area followed by application of good antibiotic cream like mupirocin.
if pain is severe, can take ibuprofen orally.
with these steps it should heal in a couple of days. Sometimes oral antibiotics are added for faster resolution of lesion.
Hope that helped.
Take care
Thanks for writing back and uploading such clear resolution pics.
The lesions seem to be due to bacterial infection of hair follicle( boil).
the treatment in your partner's case should be
draining the big pus filled lesion by puncturing the pus filled blister with sterile needle or aspirating pus from it using sterile syringe. This will relieve pressure and pain in area. This should preferably be done by a doctor. If it has to be done at home, then should be done by cleaning the area with betadine and spirit and wearing gloves or after washing hand.
warm water compresses of the area followed by application of good antibiotic cream like mupirocin.
if pain is severe, can take ibuprofen orally.
with these steps it should heal in a couple of days. Sometimes oral antibiotics are added for faster resolution of lesion.
Hope that helped.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Does the swollen lymph nodes have any relation to these lesions? he also has thrush which was caused by an injection in his knees. he has bad knees and his right knee has no cartilage. he also says that he is more light headed than normal. would the new meds his doctor put him on have any effect oh this? the diflucan or the serostim?
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
A swollen lymph node could be due to any infection too like infected lesions in scalp can cause enlargement of occipital node etc. In HIV, a person can have generalised lymph node enlargement. So the cause for lymphadenopathy can be ruled out by clinicall examination only.
Thrush or candidal infection is quite common in people with compromised immunity. For the same a course of systemic antifungal like fluconazole is required for prolonged period.
Serostim is given for muscle wasting associated with HIV. It can lead to light headedness as it may increase intracranial pressure and sometimes joint pains in few people. I would advise that you consult your doctor regarding the same.
Hope that helped.
Wishing your partner healthy life ahead.
Take care
Thanks for writing back.
A swollen lymph node could be due to any infection too like infected lesions in scalp can cause enlargement of occipital node etc. In HIV, a person can have generalised lymph node enlargement. So the cause for lymphadenopathy can be ruled out by clinicall examination only.
Thrush or candidal infection is quite common in people with compromised immunity. For the same a course of systemic antifungal like fluconazole is required for prolonged period.
Serostim is given for muscle wasting associated with HIV. It can lead to light headedness as it may increase intracranial pressure and sometimes joint pains in few people. I would advise that you consult your doctor regarding the same.
Hope that helped.
Wishing your partner healthy life ahead.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
we went to see my friends primary care doctor as the emergency doctor had told us. His primary care doctor gave him doxycycline and Valtrex to take 1 twice a day for 10 days. He started the meds Tuesday night and already the lesion looks as if it has deflated and is still red around the edges of it. I really appreciate your answers and your help. Thanks very much.
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back.
Your doctor gave doxy to reduce the infection and valtrex as he is suspecting it to be herpes infection. As your partner is having good response with these medicines please continue the same. We have to be extra cautious in patients with compromised immunity as any trivial infection could become severe and fatal.
So please be under your doctor's follow up till lesions resolve.
Wishing your friend a speedy recovery.
Should there be no query further you may close the discussion
Thanks for writing back.
Your doctor gave doxy to reduce the infection and valtrex as he is suspecting it to be herpes infection. As your partner is having good response with these medicines please continue the same. We have to be extra cautious in patients with compromised immunity as any trivial infection could become severe and fatal.
So please be under your doctor's follow up till lesions resolve.
Wishing your friend a speedy recovery.
Should there be no query further you may close the discussion
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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