Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Raised Bruising On Ankles And Productive Cough?
Question: my husband woke up with non raised bruising on the inside of both ankles. He has also had a productive cough for the past week.
We are taking care of chickens for a friend for past two weeks. Dog has also come down mites causing skin irritation. Dog is being treated for staph infection. Are chickens, mites, cough & ankle bruising somehow connected?
We are taking care of chickens for a friend for past two weeks. Dog has also come down mites causing skin irritation. Dog is being treated for staph infection. Are chickens, mites, cough & ankle bruising somehow connected?
Brief Answer:
Could be related, but need to rule out infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Trying claritin is a good idea (although pheniramine would be more helpful), just to rule out or confirm a possible bird allergy which could be causing the rash (inside of both ankles) and cough. Other symptoms that depict a possible allergic reaction can include runny nose, itchy eyes, etc.
It is also important to note that you have mentioned a productive cough, if this is true I would like to know details about the sputum like the color, consistency, whether blood stained, etc. Please write back to me about these details.
Also, does your husband have symptoms like itching on or around the region of the rash, fever, etc. It would also be a good idea to avoid contact with the dog and chickens completely; either keep them away from him or keep him restricted to the house.
You have also not mentioned any underlying conditions (eg. diabetes, etc.) in your husband, so I am assuming these are absent, but if at all there are any such conditions he has been previously diagnosed with, please do write back to me with this information along with the treatment advised for them.
I do think the dog and chickens could be related to his presentation, but I cannot be sure at the moment unless we rule out the possibility of an infection completely, for which you would have to take your husband to visit a doctor for a complete blood count.
I look forward to hearing from you to further help you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Could be related, but need to rule out infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Trying claritin is a good idea (although pheniramine would be more helpful), just to rule out or confirm a possible bird allergy which could be causing the rash (inside of both ankles) and cough. Other symptoms that depict a possible allergic reaction can include runny nose, itchy eyes, etc.
It is also important to note that you have mentioned a productive cough, if this is true I would like to know details about the sputum like the color, consistency, whether blood stained, etc. Please write back to me about these details.
Also, does your husband have symptoms like itching on or around the region of the rash, fever, etc. It would also be a good idea to avoid contact with the dog and chickens completely; either keep them away from him or keep him restricted to the house.
You have also not mentioned any underlying conditions (eg. diabetes, etc.) in your husband, so I am assuming these are absent, but if at all there are any such conditions he has been previously diagnosed with, please do write back to me with this information along with the treatment advised for them.
I do think the dog and chickens could be related to his presentation, but I cannot be sure at the moment unless we rule out the possibility of an infection completely, for which you would have to take your husband to visit a doctor for a complete blood count.
I look forward to hearing from you to further help you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. Ankle no longer looks bruised, rash fading after claritin. Not very itchy. No rhinitis assoc'd with cough. Sputum is clear, or white. No blood. No fever. Does not seem infected or weepy. No hx of diabetes. Healthy guy, only rx is simvastin. Never had high cholesterol, but did have to have bypass surgery two years ago. No MI prior, just bad angiogram. Ankles are not swollen, no CHF sx.
Still wondering about connection with dog or chickens. Will be mighty hard to avoid contact in their care. We are treating dog, and moving chickens to a new coop as soon as it can be built by next week. Until then, we are dragging a temporary coop around the yard so that they have fresh grass to pick at. We will be keeping our yard shoes separate from others & outside of house.
Any other thoughts??
Still wondering about connection with dog or chickens. Will be mighty hard to avoid contact in their care. We are treating dog, and moving chickens to a new coop as soon as it can be built by next week. Until then, we are dragging a temporary coop around the yard so that they have fresh grass to pick at. We will be keeping our yard shoes separate from others & outside of house.
Any other thoughts??
Brief Answer:
Mostly an allergic reaction, nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am and thank you for that information.
If sir seems to be responding to claritin and the rash also seems to be disappearing, my thoughts move towards only two possibilities:
-An allergic reaction (especially as the rash is located near his feet, which is the level at which the dog and/or chickens are)
-A rash from the footwear worn or used off late
There is absolutely nothing else that could have caused this rash, and in my opinion there is nothing to worry about either ma'am.
Try to keep him from contact with your pets until next week, in the meantime keep claritin and use it SOS (only when required), but this time as soon as he complains of itching or irritation.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further assistance, I am always available to help.
Best wishes ma'am.
Mostly an allergic reaction, nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am and thank you for that information.
If sir seems to be responding to claritin and the rash also seems to be disappearing, my thoughts move towards only two possibilities:
-An allergic reaction (especially as the rash is located near his feet, which is the level at which the dog and/or chickens are)
-A rash from the footwear worn or used off late
There is absolutely nothing else that could have caused this rash, and in my opinion there is nothing to worry about either ma'am.
Try to keep him from contact with your pets until next week, in the meantime keep claritin and use it SOS (only when required), but this time as soon as he complains of itching or irritation.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further assistance, I am always available to help.
Best wishes ma'am.
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
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
