Question concerning Grandson.....

[jschut, BSN, RN]

On his right thigh, he has a small pimple-like area that has a large amount of purulent drainage. It's yellowish, light-brown in color. No odor.

When I first noticed it, it had a "head" on it, almost like an ingrown hair. The area surrounding it was red, as if it was festering.

As I was feeling around it, (cause the area was red, and it felt hard underneath the skin) the "head" broke open and it began to drain.

We've went through this for two days now, morning and night. It "opens" very easily now. Barely touching it and it will start to seep.

The area is getting larger around the site with redness and the hardness.

Could this be a boil? How do I get rid of it?

Gosh, none of the kids ever got anything like this.....why the grandbaby? After all, the poor kid is only 6.....

I slightly remember our (now 21 y/o son) having something like this behind his knee when he was 15.

Don't boils have a core to them? This doesn't appear to have one.

Thanks for any advice you guys! (I'm ready for a Dr, but hubby says we should let it go a couple more days to see what it does.....

[cannoli]

I would have him seen by a doctor. Maybe he needs antibiotics.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It probably needs to be lanced. But you could try this first: baking soda poultices. Make a paste with baking soda and warm water and leave it on until it dries. Do this 3x/day until the boil is gone.....it should be noticeably smaller within 24-48 hours as the soda draws out the drainage and calms the inflammation.

Sometimes the old ways are the best......my grandmother, who was a nursing student during WWI, taught me this many years ago, and I've used it on almost everyone in the family with excellent results. About 10 years ago I developed a large, painful boil on my abdomen that didn't have a "head", but responded beautifully to this treatment, which to me was preferable to having it lanced---OUCH!

That said, I agree with the above poster in that antibiotics may be needed, and a doctor should be consulted if you are at all unsure, or if the child has developed a fever or any other signs of systemic illness.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Go to the doctor now Julie! If the area is redder and harder and growing, then I would worry. Could be nothing, but why risk it?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

yes-it could be nothing but it also could be flesh eating bacteria..Get him to the MD(which hubby is not)

[Sanchai]

He needs an antibiotic. Don't wait for it to grow larger or a fever to start. Redness around it means there's already cellulitis.

[BRANDY LPN]

I would take him to the doctor. Could it be a bite of some kind? Maybe brown recluse?