Brief Answer:
Good thing that the abscess has begun draining, advise follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

My name is Dr. Shoaib Khan, and I would be more than happy to assist you with your presentation. From what you have provided, the abscess has ruptured and began to drain. But along with this if you do not mind, please do attach a clear image of the affected region for my viewing or send an email to

YYYY@YYYY

and mention 'ATTN: Dr. Shoaib Khan' in the subject line, thank you.

It is a good thing that the abscess has begun to drain, and so I would advise the following to be done from now on:

+Get yourself some sterile dressing (i.e. cotton, cleaning pads, application pads)
+Betadine solution that can be used to clean the affected region
+Neomycin topical antibiotic cream/ointment to apply over the region once it has been cleaned (dressing to be changed once a day and also cleaned prior to that)
+Oral antibiotics for a duration of 10 days (e.g. amoxicillin + clavalunate, metronidazole, etc.). Please do understand that antibiotics are a vital part of your treatment and recovery, so please let me know if you can get your hands on some antibiotics from your local pharmacy or let me know which antibiotics you have at home so I can advise you accordingly

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
Good to know you are keeping the region clean :)

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Yes, I look forward to viewing the image and the current state of your wound.

Yes ma'am, you will require a longer course of antibiotics in order to ensure complete recovery and prevent a recurrence (one of the most common issues with improperly treated abscesses).

No, please do not squeeze the region to hard, mild squeezing (as tolerated) will suffice but only while changing the dressing. Anything more will cause irritation, and also squeeze only the first 2 days and not longer.

No, please do not go swimming at all at least for the next 14 days; swimming can easily lead to a reinfection.

Its great to know you are keeping it clean, please continue to do so ma'am. :)

Please also do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
Please do not ever hesitate to write to me ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Of course I can help you further, please just write back to me here not just now or next week, but any time you wish to. You can also write a new query and just address it to me by mentioning my name in the query anytime in the future, and it shall be directed to me. So please do not hesitate or think of it to be troubling to me by asking me anything at all, I am only here to help. :)

As for the images ma'am, there is an option somewhere on the page you are viewing to upload images to our discussion. As I am shown a totally different format of the page, being at the receiving end of the question, I will not be able to tell you where to find that option as I am unaware of it myself.

But if at all you cannot locate that option, then you can just email the images to me at:

YYYY@YYYY

and just mention 'ATTN: Dr. Shoaib Khan' in the subject line, so the team can direct the email to me. :)

Please remember, always here to help. :)

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
My sincere apologis for the delay ma'am, was held up at work

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

My sincere apologies for the delay. Thank you so much for the images.

The region is still very much active and infected, and is only very minimally draining which means it will take longer for it to drain and completely heal. A course of antibiotics for at least 10-14 days will be required without doubt. Also, you can go ahead and drain it.

Here are all my suggestions clearly after viewing the images:

+No sterile dressing required as of now (because the region is not completely open)
+But cleaning the region at least twice a day with betadine solution and also application of neomycin over the region twice a day will be required
+Please initiate a course of antibiotics (write back to me telling me which antibiotics you have at home, and the quantity, and also if you can easily get any antibiotics that I prescribe without a prescription in your region)
+Heat application over the region at least 3 times a day using a sterile cloth or dressing over the region (this helps in drainage and also promotes healing)

I would also like to know which region of your body this abscess is present? Thank you so much for your co-operation. :)

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
The location is unfortunately one that must be causing a lot of discomfort

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Yes, please speak to your pharmacist tomorrow and confirm. I wish for you to purchase the antibiotic:

Amoxiciliin+clavalunate (commonly called augmentin, but any other brand should also be fine): Dosage 625 mg oral tablet, to be taken twice a day for the next 10 days (at least), which means you will need at least 20-28 tablets

I understood the location, but please go ahead and take another picture. Sadly, the location must be causing you a lot of discomfort, pain, restlessness and also possibly a fever?

If you can or want to, then you can squeeze it, if you do not want to do that, then the heat application to the region at least 3 times a day (can apply throughout the day as well, with gaps) should help to burst it properly and also drain it.

I should also let you know ma'am, that the abscess is quite large and the drainage site is very small, which means the abscess if not draining properly. So either we use heat application to help it burst and drain better, or you may even require surgical drainage (a small procedure), but we shall consider that if you show no signs of improvement after being on antibiotics and heat application for at least 3-4 days.

So please send me pictures of the region every day, until the next 5 days so I can take a call on what needs to be done. Anyway your local doctor is away for the next 7 days, so we should be able to decide by then; your thoughts?

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
I did get your reply ma'am, reposting my response :)

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Yes, please speak to your pharmacist tomorrow and confirm. I wish for you to purchase the antibiotic:

Amoxiciliin+clavalunate (commonly called augmentin, but any other brand should also be fine): Dosage 625 mg oral tablet, to be taken twice a day for the next 10 days (at least), which means you will need at least 20-28 tablets

I understood the location, but please go ahead and take another picture. Sadly, the location must be causing you a lot of discomfort, pain, restlessness and also possibly a fever?

If you can or want to, then you can squeeze it, if you do not want to do that, then the heat application to the region at least 3 times a day (can apply throughout the day as well, with gaps) should help to burst it properly and also drain it.

I should also let you know ma'am, that the abscess is quite large and the drainage site is very small, which means the abscess if not draining properly. So either we use heat application to help it burst and drain better, or you may even require surgical drainage (a small procedure), but we shall consider that if you show no signs of improvement after being on antibiotics and heat application for at least 3-4 days.

So please send me pictures of the region every day, until the next 5 days so I can take a call on what needs to be done. Anyway your local doctor is away for the next 7 days, so we should be able to decide by then; your thoughts?

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
Good news

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again XXXXXXX

I am so glad the abscess is looking better today. Continue and finish the course of antibiotics as prescribed even if you have completely recovered.

Keep me posted and wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Dr. Shoaib Khan :)

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