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How Long Should AB Ointment, Polysporin Be Used For Sinus Infection?

Posted on Wed, 17 Apr 2024

Question: Hi, please refer to my other question. I got this for about 2 days, it was smaller before. Of all the bumps I had this past week I think this one is the biggest. It hurts when I touch it, no itch. I have been clearing my nose a lot, could this be from the friction? And the location worries me as well. Considering my sinus infection in January. I've been using Polypsporin, once a day, on it but doesn't seem to make it smaller, today I'm using an AB that the doc gave me for a sinus infection. 1) Does this look viral or bacterial? It looks similar to the first bump but bigger. 2) Does it look...worrysome considering my history. 3) should I keep using AB ointment, polypsporin or the AB doc gave me for sinus infection. If so how many times a day. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You should not ignore it

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I have gone through your query and the pictures. I can understand your concerns.

The one outside your nose is a boil caused by a bacterial infection. Application of T-Bact (Mupirocin) ointment should help in controlling it and should make it eventually go away. But it is in what is known as 'dangerous area of nose' and can spread easily to the brain. I would therefore insist you to see a doctor. Based on the evaluation s/he would possibly prescribe you an oral antibiotic like Co-amoxiclav.

Now, coming to your questions:

1. Yes, bacterial most likely
2. Not considering your history but as described
3. Polysporin may not help, follow the earlier advice

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (49 minutes later)

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I do have Mupirocin from December, when I had a sinus infection inside nostril. I also had that same oral antibiotics you mentioned about 2 months ago for a chest infection. I did blood test, which you can see from my first question. Is it possible for me to get that badly infected again that I need more antibiotics after just two months? I have limited insurance, I can only go to doc for obvious bad reasons, I'm not sure a boil will be covered. 1) How many times a day do I need to use mupirocin? 2) Does the skin around it look red swollen to you? 3) What makes this(a boil) different from a regular acne/pimple? 3) You say it's on the bad part of my face which can lead to my brain. Is it worst than having it inside the nostril? 4) I understand you're insisting for me to to doc, and I will, but is it really that urgent? I'm asking because if I need to go to doc, as mentioned, my insurance need a good reason. Do I say it's on my nose? Or something more specific? 5)i read that I should watch for swollen lymph nodes, what are these and where would I expect them to show up? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You may try mupirocin and the oral antibiotics first. Caution required.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update. I do not suppose that you need antibiotics for 2 months. A 5-7 day course should be fine. This is independent of the chest infection or the sinusitis.
1. Using mupirocin three or four times a day should be fine.
2. Yes
3. An acne is hardly different. In case of an acne the bacterial infection occurs around a sebaceous gland.

The infection is in the dangerous area of face, from where infections can easily spread to the brain. It therefore calls for caution. Mention this.

Do not bother about swollen lymph nodes. If you have them, you would know.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (20 minutes later)

Thanks, few more questions if you please before I consider further steps.

Also there's some confusion, I didn't take any oral AB for 2 months. I only had a course for 10 days (Co-amoxiclav), 2 months ago.

1) So it's possible for me to get another infection, that requires oral antibiotics, so soon after my last dose of Co-amoxiclav?

2) From what you have said the location of this...bump is NOT on a sebaceous gland, therefore this can NOT be a pimple and is most certainly a boil?

3) Even if this drains, I should still be concerned and still need oral AB?

4) I will try to go to a doc on Saturday (2 days from now). Is this something I need to be looked at right away? Like a walk in clinic instead of my regular doc(need appointment)?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Walk-in clinic should be fine

Detailed Answer:
Pardon me for the inadvertent delay in responding.

1. Yes, It is possible for you to get another (independent) infection.

2. Sebaceous glands are present all over the skin and so the boil is more likely to have occurred surrounding one.

3. Drains? Did you mean that the infection gets controlled? The antibiotic is a weapon to fight the war. If the war is won, the utility of the weapons is already done with.

4. A walk-in clinic should suffice, rather than waiting for your regular doctor.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (46 hours later)

Hi, so the Doc didn't give me oral and I can use Taro Mupirocin still...and watch it for a few more days... So today when washing my face to apply Mupirocin I took off the skin layer that is covering the flesh... There was no pus, the skin is dried pus colored. But now I have a circle of exposed skin. What I am doing right now. 1) Washed my face with Cleanser. 2) Dabbed Hydrogen Peroxide on the exposed skin. 3) Applied Mupirocin on it. 4) Used an Acne patch because using a Bandage is awkward and restricting considerig the location. Please see new pic. My question: 1)The doc told me to wash and disinfect area before Mupirocin, I used soft face cleanser to wash and to disinfect I use Hydrogen Peroxide. Is this ok or too much? 2) Is using an Acne patch ok or should I use a Bandage or don't cover it? 3)what else can you suggest? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Skeptical about hygrogen peroxide. Otherwise ok

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update.
Seems fine. However, I do not think that you need to use hydrogen peroxide unless your doctor has insisted you to. Using an acne patch is ok. You do not need a bandage. Nothing else suggested.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (23 hours later)

Is it normal to feel nausea during this event? I went to clinic the day I started feeling it (Saturday). The doc seems to think it'll pass after the infection is done. I'm feeling it on and off, in the morning I'm fine but later I feel different. I don't have fever/chills. Is it normal not to get oral AB after I describe all of this ?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sorry for the inadvertent delay in responding.

Detailed Answer:
No, I would not consider nausea to be 'normal'. It could be due to the medicines you are taking (if any). It could be due to anxiety. I would insist you to wait and watch. Oral antibiotics will not relieve your nausea.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (53 minutes later)

Hi, I have thank you again. The following is a series of pic comparing the bump. 1)Can you please look at them whether it looks... it's improving or not. It has been this color for 2 days. I'm not sure if there's less swelling compared to yesterday. It doesn't seem to have any pus. 2) How long do you think this bump will take to be flat. If there's anything I can do to hasten it. 3) What alarm signs should I look out for before I need to go back to Doc?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Recovering

Detailed Answer:
I have checked the attached image. It is healing. Give it some time and it would resolve completely. No alarming signs. No need to worry. I do not suppose that you would need to go back to the doctor and am therefore not mentioning any warning signs (not needed).

Regards

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. Raju A.T