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What Causes Recurent Skin Abscess?

Posted on Thu, 15 May 2014

Question: my wife keeps gettin skin abcesses , she has had two in the past two weeks, and thinks she is getting two more , what wold cause this ?

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
blood sugar levels and treat carrier state

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Welcome to healthcaremagic.
I have read your query and understood your concern.

Recurent skin abscess is most commonly due to diabetes mellitus.
I will advice you to get fasting and post prandial blood sugar level of your wife.

for recurrent abscess, the another very common cause is carriage in orificial areas.

I usually advice my patients to take oral antibiotics and apply topical antibiotic cream twice daily over the lesions and inside both nostrils and perineal area for atleast 2 weeks.

I hope I am able to solve your query.
If you have any further query you may ask me.

Stay healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Charu Bansal (52 minutes later)

It started out with one painfull abcess on her anal area.. and when that one cleared up she got another on on the back of her thigh., that one cleared up and she has now has two new ones on her anal area. she has also had a yeast infection throughout all this. She went to the Dr and they swabbed the first abcess about 12 days ago to see if it was viral, they proscribed her valacyclovir , in hopes to clear the infection ... they did not want to treat the yeast infection at the time to give the valacyclovir a chance. .

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
detail follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Welcome again.

Viral infection presents as fluid filled lesions or erosions or if secondarily infected , as pus filled / discharging lesions . It is usually associated with burning sensation or pain.

Abcess is pus filled cavity due to bacterial infection.

The swab that was taken to demonstrate the organism must have misfolded the mystery. It would tell the implicated organism.

if it was viral infection, valcyvlovir will definitely help in treating and preventing further episodes.
But if it had been bacterial infection, she definitely requires antibiotics as advised in my previous reply.

Kindly tell me if the lesions I described fit into viral/ bacterial infection.
You may also discuss my opinion with your treating doctor. I am sure that he/ she will agree with my opinion.

Good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Charu Bansal (13 minutes later)

They are pus filled in which would be bacterial! Why wouldn't the Dr stopped the valacyclovir once they found out it was not viral, and proscribed her some antibiotics,? And the persistent yeast infection? ???

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
antifungals for yeast infection

Detailed Answer:
In that case, may be there is overlying bacterial infection superimposed on viral infection.

Your doctor must have examined your wife properly. Dont worry. I can give you clue to the diagnosis with theoretical description.

But definitely you may discuss the things with your treating doctor.

Regarding fungal infection, it will also require antifungals if the diagnosis is confirmed.
It will not respond to valcyvlovir only.
valcyvlovir is meant for viral infection only.

I will advice you to consult and discuss the things with your doctor.
We are here to help you always.

Stay healthy.

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. Shanthi.E