Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Tender Red Swelling On The Leg
Question: My mother has a problem. She is now 87 years old and has always been in fairly good health. About 4 months ago she started having swelling in her left leg. It is now very tender, red, shinny. She has seen about a dozen doctors now and no one can give her any advice specifics as what to do. She has been given many differant antibiotics but nothing is working. Even worse is now her entire body is itching from head to toe and it will not go away. She has stopped taking the antibiotics thinking that it is some kind of allergy but it has now been almost a month and the itching does not stop. Additionally her other leg is now starting to swell. We are very concerned and don't know what to do. Any help would or advice would be appreciated.
Brief Answer:
cause of the swelling to be ascertained first
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Swelling of legs could be due to medical conditions like malnutrition, emphysema(copd) congestive heart failure, kidney diseases, hypothyroidism,hypertension heart disease etc or surgical conditions like peripheral vascular disease,varicose veins,deep vein thrombosis,lymphatic obstruction etc.
The important thing is if your mother is otherwise medically healthy then you must consult surgeon or vascular surgeon to diagnose the underlying cause of swelling. The colour Doppler study of both legs with routine blood investigations(CBC, ESR, CRP,Serum total protein,liver and kidney function tests)will be helpful.
If above things come normal then you will need to rule out orthopedic causes like osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, sprain and strain,fracture etc.
Itching all over body could be to contact dermatitis, subcutaneous fungal infection, tinea infestations,psoriasis or scabies etc,this list is too long but I have mentioned only that causes which are likely to have in old age.
So,better you take her to dermatologist and get diagnosed first.
If you have any query then do ask me.
Regards, Dr.sandipkabra.
cause of the swelling to be ascertained first
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Swelling of legs could be due to medical conditions like malnutrition, emphysema(copd) congestive heart failure, kidney diseases, hypothyroidism,hypertension heart disease etc or surgical conditions like peripheral vascular disease,varicose veins,deep vein thrombosis,lymphatic obstruction etc.
The important thing is if your mother is otherwise medically healthy then you must consult surgeon or vascular surgeon to diagnose the underlying cause of swelling. The colour Doppler study of both legs with routine blood investigations(CBC, ESR, CRP,Serum total protein,liver and kidney function tests)will be helpful.
If above things come normal then you will need to rule out orthopedic causes like osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, sprain and strain,fracture etc.
Itching all over body could be to contact dermatitis, subcutaneous fungal infection, tinea infestations,psoriasis or scabies etc,this list is too long but I have mentioned only that causes which are likely to have in old age.
So,better you take her to dermatologist and get diagnosed first.
If you have any query then do ask me.
Regards, Dr.sandipkabra.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
