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Suggest Treatment For Swelling Around Bug Bite On Ankle
Question: I had a bug bite on my ankle that blistered like poison ivy. After the blister burst, I went swimming in Lake XXXXXXX (KS). Shortly after, my ankle swelled where the bite had been. I went to urgent care, was put on an antibiotic and given antibiotic salve to apply to the ankle. After a week, it was no better, so I went back to urgent care and was given amoxicillin. I've been on it for a week (with 2 of the 10 pills left) and my ankle started swelling on the other side (outside), too, last night. I was wondering if I picked up some kind of disease in the water and wonder if I should go to an emergency room to have it "drained."
Brief Answer:
Wrong antibiotic
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns and questions
You recently had an area o your leg become infected and treated now with 2 different antibiotics. The last antibiotic you were given was amoxicillin. This antibiotic is very poor choice fro skin infections. I would recommend going to a different urgent care or to your primary care doctor and getting an antibiotic that is specific for skin infections. In your case I would recommend either a sulfa drug like bactrim or doxycycline or Keflex. These are more geared toward sklin infection and should help heal the area.
You should also elevate your leg. By continuing to walk on the leg you allow fluids to accumulate in your lower leg and make the healing longer. As much as you can elevated the leg to promote healing
In summary
1. see another provider
2. need different antibiotic preferably bactrim, doxycycline or Keflex
3 elevate leg
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care questions
Wrong antibiotic
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns and questions
You recently had an area o your leg become infected and treated now with 2 different antibiotics. The last antibiotic you were given was amoxicillin. This antibiotic is very poor choice fro skin infections. I would recommend going to a different urgent care or to your primary care doctor and getting an antibiotic that is specific for skin infections. In your case I would recommend either a sulfa drug like bactrim or doxycycline or Keflex. These are more geared toward sklin infection and should help heal the area.
You should also elevate your leg. By continuing to walk on the leg you allow fluids to accumulate in your lower leg and make the healing longer. As much as you can elevated the leg to promote healing
In summary
1. see another provider
2. need different antibiotic preferably bactrim, doxycycline or Keflex
3 elevate leg
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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