Author: drertv

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

— Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition that causes the muscle in the heart to get too bulky (figure 1). When this happens, the heart can have trouble pumping blood as well as it should. This can lead to symptoms, such as trouble breathing, chest pain, and fainting. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is caused by a genetic problem that runs in families.

What are the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

— Most people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can start during childhood, the teenage years, or adulthood. Symptoms can include: ●Trouble breathing, especially during exercise ●Trouble breathing that gets worse when you lie down and gets better if you sit up or stand ●Chest pain, which sometimes gets worse with activity ●Fainting or feeling like you might faint ●Feeling as though your heart is beating very fast or skipping beats ●Swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs

Is there a test for cardiomyopathy?

— Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects you have cardiomyopathy, he or she will probably order an “electrocardiogram” (also called an “ECG” or “EKG”). This test measures the electrical activity in your heart. It can show if your heart beats in a normal pattern and rhythm. Your doctor might also order an “echocardiogram” (or “echo” for short). An echo uses sound waves to create an image of the heart. This test allows doctors to measure the thickness of the walls of the heart, measure the size of the spaces inside the heart — called chambers — and see how the heart pumps. Depending on your situation, you might also need other tests. Since hypertrophic cardiomyopathy runs in families, your doctor or nurse might suggest testing your family members for the disorder, too.

What problems can hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cause?

— In many cases the condition causes no problems. But in some cases it can lead to: ●Heart failure, a condition in which the heart does not pump as well as it should ●Heart rhythm disorders ●Heart block, a problem that keeps electrical signals from moving through the heart as they should ●Stroke ●Infection of a heart valve ●Death

How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treated?

— Many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy do not need treatment. Those who do need treatment can get different kinds depending on what symptoms they have and how severe their condition is. Treatments can include: ●Medicines to relieve chest pain or trouble breathing ●Medicines to control the heart’s rhythm ●Surgery to implant a device called an “implantable cardioverter-defibrillator,” or “ICD.” (This device keeps the heart beating normally.) ●Surgery or other treatments to remove parts of the heart muscle. (This is done only when medicines do not work.)

What if I want to get pregnant?

— Talk to your doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Most women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are able to have normal pregnancies. But some need to change their medicines before they start trying to have a baby.

Is there anything I can do on my own to protect my heart and my health?

— Yes. You should be careful to always drink enough water. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy sometimes have problems, such as fainting, when they do not get enough fluids. On the other hand, some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have to be careful if they have too much salt and water. Ask your doctor about how much salt is OK to have in your diet. It’s also important that you ask your doctor what types of physical activity are safe for you. In many cases, people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy need to avoid some kinds of activity.

Dr. Carlo Oller, Emergency Physician talks about appendicitis.

What is the appendix?

— The appendix is a long, thin pouch that is shaped like a finger. It hangs down from the large intestine, which is also called the colon.

What is appendicitis?

— Appendicitis is the name for when the appendix gets infected and inflamed. If that happens, it can swell and in some cases burst. That’s dangerous, because a burst appendix can cause infection in the belly.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

— The usual symptoms include: ●Severe pain in the lower part of the belly, on the right side. (For many people, the pain starts near the belly button and then moves to the lower right side.) ●Loss of appetite ●Nausea and vomiting ●Fever Some people can have different symptoms, such as: ●Stomach upset ●Having a lot of gas ●Irregular bowel movements ●Diarrhea ●Feeling ill

Is there a test for appendicitis?

— Your doctor or nurse can run tests that can help him or her find the cause of your symptoms. But if you do have appendicitis, he or she will probably be able to diagnose it just by doing an exam. Your doctor or nurse can learn a lot about your condition by pressing on your belly and talking with you about your symptoms.

Should I see a doctor or nurse?

— Yes. Call your doctor or nurse if you have the symptoms listed above.

How is appendicitis treated?

— The main treatment for appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix. This surgery can be done in 2 ways: ●Open surgery – During an open surgery, the doctor makes a cut near the appendix that is big enough to pull the appendix through. ●Laparoscopic surgery – During laparoscopic surgery, the doctor makes a few cuts that are much smaller than those used in open surgery. Then he or she inserts long, thin tools into the belly. One of the tools has a camera (called a “laparoscope”) on the end, which sends pictures to a TV screen. The doctor can look at the image on the screen to know where to cut and what to remove. Then he or she uses the long tools to do the surgery. If your appendix has burst, your surgery will probably be more complicated than it would be if it had not burst. Your doctor will need to wash away the material that spills out when an appendix bursts. As a result, your cuts might be larger or you might spend more time in surgery. If it has been a few days since your appendix burst, your doctor might decide not to do surgery at all. That’s because the body sometimes forms a wall inside the belly, to block off the area that became infected when the appendix burst. In a case like this, doctors usually give antibiotics and carefully watch the person. They might be able to avoid doing surgery right away, since it can be more difficult in people who fit this description. But many people will need surgery later to take out the appendix.

What if I am pregnant?

— If you are pregnant and think you have signs of appendicitis, make sure you tell your doctors that you are pregnant.

What are dizziness and vertigo?

Dizziness is a feeling that is sometimes hard to describe. It often makes you feel like you are about to fall or pass out. Dizziness can also cause you to feel lightheaded or make it hard for you to walk straight.

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes you feel like you are spinning, swaying, or tilting, or like the room is moving around you. These feelings come and go, and might last seconds, hours, or days. You might feel worse when you move your head, change positions, cough, or sneeze.

Some people with vertigo have trouble walking. Some people with vertigo have nausea and might vomit.

What causes vertigo?

The most common causes of vertigo include:

●Inner ear problems – Deep inside the ear, there is a small network of tubes that are filled with fluid. Floating inside that fluid are special calcium deposits. Together, these tubes and deposits make up the “vestibular system.” This system tells the brain what position the body is in. It also helps keep you balanced.

Problems that affect the inner ear and can lead to vertigo include:

•Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo – In this condition, extra calcium deposits form in the inner ear. This can lead to short episodes of vertigo that happen when you move your head in certain ways.

•Meniere disease – This is a condition in which fluid builds up inside the inner ear. This causes vertigo as well as hearing loss and ringing in one or both ears.

•Vestibular neuritis – This is sometimes caused by a virus which can affect the inner ear or the nerve in the inner ear. It is sometimes called “labyrinthitis.” People with this condition have vertigo that comes on quickly and can last several days. They also often feel very sick and off balance.

•Head injury – Even a minor head injury can cause inner ear damage and vertigo. This is usually temporary.

•Vestibular migraine – People who get migraines, which are a type of headache, can sometimes have episodes of vertigo. This can happen with or without a headache.

●Other problems – Other things that can cause vertigo include:

•Certain medicines

•Problems that affect the brain, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis

Should I see a doctor or nurse?See your doctor or nurse right away if you have vertigo and:

●Have a new or severe headache

●Have a fever higher than 100.4ºF (38ºC)

●Start to see double or have trouble seeing clearly

●Have trouble speaking or hearing

●Have weakness in an arm or leg or your face droops to one side

●Cannot walk on your own

●Pass out

●Have numbness or tingling

●Have chest pain

●Cannot stop vomiting

You should also see your doctor or nurse if you have vertigo that lasts for several minutes or more and you:

●Are older than 60

●Had a stroke in the past

●Are at risk for having a stroke, for example because you have diabetes or you smoke

If you have dizziness or vertigo that comes and goes but you do not have any of the problems listed above, you should still make an appointment with your doctor or nurse.

Will I need tests?

Maybe. Your doctor will start by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam. During the exam, he or she will check:

●Your hearing

●How you walk and keep your balance

●How your eyes work when you watch a moving object, and when your head is turned from side to side

Depending on what your doctor finds during the exam, he or she might order more tests to better understand your hearing or balance problems. In some cases, the doctor will order an MRI of your brain. An MRI is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of your body.

How is vertigo treated?

If your doctor knows what is causing your vertigo, he or she will probably try to treat that problem directly. For instance, if you have calcium deposits in your inner ear, the doctor might try to get them out by moving your head in a specific way.

Your doctor can also give you medicines that might help your vertigo and relieve nausea and vomiting.

If your vertigo is really bad, your doctor might also suggest a treatment called “balance rehabilitation.” This treatment teaches you exercises that can help you cope with your vertigo.

What can I do on my own to deal with my vertigo?

If you have trouble standing or walking because of vertigo, you are at risk of falling. To reduce the risk of falls, make your home as safe as possible. Get rid of loose electrical cords, clutter, and slippery rugs. Also, make sure that you wear sturdy, non-slip shoes, and that your walkways are clear and well lit.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition that some women get when they are pregnant. It usually happens during the second half of pregnancy (after 20 weeks). It can also happen during labor or after the baby is born.

Women with preeclampsia have high blood pressure. They might also have too much protein in their urine, or problems with organs like the liver, kidneys, brain, eyes, or placenta. (The placenta is the organ that brings the baby nutrients and oxygen and carries away waste.) Plus, the baby might not grow well and be smaller than normal.

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?

Most women with preeclampsia do not feel any different than usual. Preeclampsia usually does not cause symptoms unless it is severe. Signs and symptoms of severe preeclampsia include:

●A bad headache

●Changes in vision: blurry vision, flashes of light, spots

●Belly pain, especially in the upper belly

If you have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse. You might not have preeclampsia, because these symptoms can also occur in normal pregnancies. But it’s important that your doctor knows about them.

You should also call your doctor or nurse if you have bleeding from the vagina.

How might preeclampsia affect my baby?Preeclampsia can:

●Slow the growth of the baby

●Decrease the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby (amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds and protects the baby in the uterus)

You should call your doctor or nurse if your baby is not moving as much as usual. Your doctor or nurse will do tests to check for any problems with the baby.

Is there a test for preeclampsia?Yes. To test for preeclampsia, your doctor or nurse will take your blood pressure and check your urine for protein during pregnancy. They might also do blood tests to make sure your organs are working as they should.

When your doctor or nurse tells you your blood pressure, they will say 2 numbers. For instance, your doctor or nurse might say that your blood pressure is “140 over 90.” To be diagnosed with preeclampsia, your top number (called “systolic pressure”) must be 140 or higher, or your bottom number (called “diastolic pressure”) must be 90 or higher. Plus, you must have too much protein in your urine or problems with 1 or more of your organs.

It is possible to have high blood pressure (above 140/90) during pregnancy without having high protein in the urine or other problems. That is not preeclampsia. Still, if you develop high blood pressure, your doctor will watch you closely. You could develop preeclampsia or other problems related to high blood pressure.

How is preeclampsia treated?For preeclampsia that develops during pregnancy, the only cure is to deliver the baby. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about whether it is better for you to have your baby right away, or to wait. The best decision will depend on how severe your preeclampsia is and how many weeks pregnant you are. While delivering the baby will cure your preeclampsia, it’s also important to give the baby as much time as possible to grow and develop.

If your preeclampsia is mild:

●If you are less than 34 weeks pregnant, your doctor will probably suggest waiting.

●If you are between 34 and 37 weeks pregnant, your doctor will talk to you about your options and help you decide what to do.

●If you are more than 37 weeks pregnant, your doctor will probably suggest delivering your baby.

If the decision is to wait, the doctor will check you and your baby often for any problems. You might need to stay in the hospital until it is time to give birth.

When it is time to deliver your baby, you will probably get medicine to start contractions. This is called “inducing labor.” Most women are able to give birth the usual way, through the vagina. But in some cases the doctor will need to do a C-section. A C-section, or “cesarean delivery,” is a type of surgery used to get the baby out of the uterus.

If your preeclampsia is severe, you will probably need to deliver your baby as soon as possible. You might also get medicine to lower your blood pressure, if it is very high. This is to keep you from having a stroke.

Women with preeclampsia can sometimes have seizures. Your doctor or nurse will probably give you medicine during labor to prevent this.

What can I do to prevent preeclampsia?

You can’t do anything to keep from getting preeclampsia. The most important thing you can do is to keep all the appointments you have with your doctor, nurse, or midwife. That way, they can find out as soon as possible if your blood pressure goes up, or if you have too much protein in your urine or any other problems. Also, call your doctor, nurse, or midwife right away if you have symptoms of preeclampsia or the baby isn’t moving as much as usual. They can do things to keep you from having worse problems from preeclampsia.

If you are at high risk for preeclampsia, your doctor might tell you to take low-dose aspirin during your second and third trimesters of pregnancy (after 12 weeks). You are at high risk if you have had preeclampsia before and your baby was born early, if you are pregnant with twins, or if you have high blood pressure even when you are not pregnant. Your doctor can tell you if you are at high risk.

Do not take aspirin or other medicines unless your doctor or nurse tells you it’s safe.

Can preeclampsia cause other health problems?

If you had preeclampsia, you have a higher chance of getting high blood pressure and heart disease later in life. You should tell your primary care doctor or nurse that you had preeclampsia. They can talk to you about things you can do to lower your chance of getting these health problems in the future. This might include not smoking, eating healthy foods, keeping a healthy weight, and being active.

You have chest pain because the cartilage of your rib cage is inflamed. This problem is called costochondritis. This type of chest wall pain may last from days to weeks. It is not a heart problem. Sometimes costochondritis occurs with a cold or the flu, and other times the exact cause is not known.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Take medicines for pain and inflammation exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• It may help to use a warm compress or heating pad (set on low) on your chest. You can also try alternating heat and ice. Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• Avoid any activity that strains the chest area. As your pain gets better, you can slowly return to your normal activities.
• Do not use tape, an elastic bandage, a “rib belt,” or anything else that restricts your chest wall motion.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You have new or different chest pain or pressure. This may occur with:
  • Sweating.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Pain that spreads from the chest to the neck, jaw, or one or both shoulders or arms.
  • Dizziness or light-headedness.
  • A fast or uneven pulse.
  After you call 911, chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.
• You have severe trouble breathing.

Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have a fever or cough.
• You have any trouble breathing.
• Your chest pain gets worse.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:

• Your chest pain continues even though you are taking anti-inflammatory medicine.
• Your chest wall pain has not improved after 5 to 7 days.

• A viral infection of the mouth and lips in young children

Health Information

Symptoms

• Many small water blisters inside the mouth on the gums, tongue and lips. They quickly break open and become small mouth ulcers (sores)
• The gums are very red and can bleed easily.
• Ulcers also occur on the outer lips or skin around the mouth.
• The ulcers occur equally on both sides of the mouth and lips.
• The ulcers cause pain that interferes with feeding and swallowing. Poor fluid intake can lead to dehydration.
• Lymph nodes in the neck are usually swollen and tender.
• Fever present and may last 5 days.
• Usually occurs age 1 to 3.

Cause

• Herpes Simplex Virus type 1. The first infection with HSV1 can be severe
• It usually follows contact with someone who has active cold sores (fever blisters). Often they have kissed the child.

Prevention of Spread to Others

• Herpes virus is easily spread to other children who have not had it.
• The virus is mainly found in the saliva and the sores.
• Avoid sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils. Avoid kissing.
• Also avoid sharing toys with other children. Reason: most young children put toys in their mouth.
• The mouth sores are contagious for about 7 days.

Care Advice

1. Overview:
   • The first infection with the Herpes virus can be severe.
   • The mouth ulcers make it hard for your child to drink and eat normally.
   • Your main job is to help your child drink enough fluids.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Liquid Antacid for Mouth Pain:
   • For mouth pain, use a liquid antacid such as Mylanta or the store brand. Give 4 times per day as needed. After meals often is a good time. Age: Use for children over 1 year old.
   • For children over age 6, can use 1 teaspoon (5 ml) as a mouth wash. Keep it on the ulcers as long as possible. Then can spit it out or swallow it.
   • For younger children age 1 to 6, put a few drops in the mouth. Can also put it on with a cotton swab.
   • Caution: Do not use regular mouth washes, because they sting.
3. Avoid Numbing Medicines:
   • Do not use numbing medicines. Reason: They only work for about 20 minutes.
   • Also, during that time your child may chew on their lip by mistake.
   • They may also cause your child to choke and other side effects.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.
5. Fever:
   • For fevers above 102° F (39° C), give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Note: Lower fevers are important for fighting infections.
   • For ALL fevers: Keep your child well hydrated. Give lots of cold fluids.
6. Anti-Viral Drug by Mouth:
   • Oral anti-viral medicine can help the sores go away faster if started early. That usually means within 3 days of when the infection started.
   • If your doctor has prescribed an anti-viral drug, take it as advised.
   • Try not to forget any of the doses.
7. Antibiotics Not Needed:
   • Antibiotics are not helpful for viral infections.
   • They can only kill bacteria.
8. Fluids and Soft Diet:
   • Try to get your child to drink adequate fluids.
   • Goal: keep your child well hydrated.
   • Cold drinks, milk shakes, popsicles, slushes, and sherbet are good choices.
   • Solids. Offer a soft diet. Also avoid foods that need much chewing. Avoid citrus, salty, or spicy foods. Note: Fluid intake is more important than eating any solids.
   • For babies, offer fluids in a cup, spoon or syringe rather than a bottle. Reason: The nipple may increase pain.
9. What to Expect:
   • Fever usually lasts 3 to 5 days.
   • Mouth pain lasts 5 to 7 days.
   • The mouth sores heal up in 10 to 14 days.
10. Return to Child Care or School:
    • Older children can return to school after the fever is gone.
    • Younger children who can’t stop touching their mouth need to stay home for 7 days.
    • Also, they need to avoid sharing toys with other kids for a week.

Call Your Doctor If

• Trouble breathing occurs
• Your child can’t drink enough fluids
• Fever lasts more than 5 days
• Mouth ulcers last more than 2 weeks
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

What is frostbite?

Frostbite is damage to a body part caused by cold. It can be mild or severe.

Frostbite is most common on the ears, nose, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Skin affected by frostbite might look white and feel numb or hard.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

Symptoms can include:

●Cold, numb skin – Skin might look white or gray and feel hard or waxy.

●Trouble moving the affected area – For example, fingers with frostbite might feel clumsy.

●Blisters with fluid or blood inside – These can develop after the body part with frostbite warms up.

●Damaged skin that has turned black – This is a sign of severe frostbite that can appear days later.

How can I help a person who might have frostbite?If you think you or someone you are with might have frostbite, you should:

●Move the person to a warmer place as soon as possible

●Take off any wet clothing

●Try to warm up the affected area. To do this, you can:

•Put it in warm water – The water should feel comfortable when you touch it with unaffected skin. Do not use hot water.

•Use body heat – For example, you can hold cold, numb fingers under the armpits.

●Avoid things that could cause worse damage. For example:

•Try not to walk on feet that have frostbite, unless you have to walk to get to a warm place.

•Do not warm the area if it might get cold again before you see a doctor or nurse.

•Do not rub the area.

•Do not use a stove or fire to warm the area, because numb skin can get burned by accident.

If frostbite symptoms don’t get better after taking these steps, get to a hospital as soon as possible.

How is frostbite treated?Treatments include:

●Warming the affected area in water – This can hurt, but doctors can give medicines to help with pain.

●Medicine to help with blood flow – Frostbite can damage blood vessels and cause blood clots in affected body parts. This can lead to serious problems. Medicines that can help with blood flow include:

•tPA – If you have severe frostbite and a high risk of losing a body part, doctors might give you a medicine called “tPA.” tPA helps the blood flow normally again. But tPA increases the risk of severe bleeding, including bleeding in the brain. So doctors only give it to people with a low risk of bleeding.

•Iloprost – This medicine can also improve blood flow to the body parts with frostbite. It can be given with or without tPA. Iloprost is not available everywhere.

●Tetanus shot – Tetanus is a germ (bacteria) that lives in the soil. It can get into tissue that is damaged by frostbite. A tetanus shot prevents people from getting sick.

●Antibiotics – Tissue that is damaged by frostbite is more likely to get infected. If this happens, doctors can give antibiotic medicines.

●Surgery – Severe frostbite can kill tissue. The dead tissue sometimes falls off by itself, but doctors sometimes need to remove it. Some people with severe frostbite need a kind of surgery called “amputation” to remove a damaged body part.

Can frostbite be prevented?

Yes. In most cases, you can prevent frostbite by being careful not to stay out in the cold for too long. Be sure to dress warmly enough. It can be good to wear:

●A hat

●Face protection, such as a ski mask

●Sunglasses or goggles

●Mittens – Mittens keep hands warmer than gloves.

●Warm, water-resistant shoes or boots

●Layers of clothing – These might include long underwear, fleece or wool clothing, and a coat and pants that protect against wind, rain, and snow.

It can also help to:

●Eat enough when you are out in the cold

●Avoid alcohol and smoking

●Avoid contact with water or metal – These can be very cold.

●Know the weather – If it gets very cold and windy, frostbite can happen more quickly (in a few minutes).

●Tell people where you are going

●Carry emergency supplies in case you are outside longer than you planned

Some people put lotion or ointment on the skin to prevent frostbite. But this might actually make frostbite more likely.

Most people think frostbite only happens outside. But putting cold objects on the skin, such as ice packs, can cause frostbite. Only use an ice pack (or other cold object) for 15 minutes every 1 or 2 hours. Put a cloth or towel between the ice and your skin.

What are cellulitis and erysipelas?

Cellulitis and erysipelas are both infections of the skin. These infections can cause redness, pain, and swelling. The difference between them is that erysipelas tends to affect the upper layers of skin, and cellulitis tends to affect deep layers of skin and sometimes the fat under the skin.

Cellulitis and erysipelas can happen when germs get into the skin. Normally, different types of germs live on a person’s skin. Most of the time, these germs do not cause any problems. But if a person gets a cut or a break in the skin, the germs can get into the skin and cause an infection.

Certain conditions can increase a person’s chance of getting cellulitis or erysipelas. These include:

●Having a cut (even a tiny one)

●Having another type of skin infection or a long-term skin condition

●Having swelling of the skin or swelling in the body

●Being overweight

What are the symptoms of cellulitis and erysipelas?

Both types of infection cause very similar symptoms. Either infection can cause the infected area to be painful, red, swollen, or warm. Some people with cellulitis or erysipelas can sometimes also have fever or chills. And sometimes, people with these infections have no symptoms or only some of these symptoms.

Most of the time, cellulitis and erysipelas happen on the legs or arms. But people can get these infections in other places, such as the belly, the face, in the mouth, or around the anus.

Will I need tests?

Most people do not need any tests. Your doctor or nurse will do an exam and look at your skin.

It’s important for a doctor or nurse to do an exam to figure out what kind of infection you have. The right treatment for a skin infection depends on the type of infection it is and which germs are causing it. Your doctor or nurse might need to do tests to figure out the cause of your infection.

If you have cellulitis or erysipelas, it’s important to get treated. These infections can spread to the whole body and become serious if not treated.

How are cellulitis and erysipelas treated?

These infections are treated with antibiotic pills. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you to take at home, it is important to follow the directions exactly. Take all of the pills you are given, even if you feel better before you finish them. If you do not take all the pills, the infection can come back worse.

People who have severe infections might be treated in the hospital and given antibiotics through a thin tube that goes into the vein, called an “IV”.

What can I do to help treat my infection?

You can:

●Raise your arm or leg (if your infection is on your arm or leg) to reduce swelling – Raise the arm or leg up above the level of your heart 3 or 4 times a day, for 30 minutes each time.

●Keep the infected area clean and dry – You can take a shower or bath, but be sure to pat the area dry with a towel afterward.

Antibiotic ointments or creams do not work to treat cellulitis and erysipelas.

Should I call my doctor or nurse?

You should call your doctor or nurse if your symptoms do not get better within 3 days of starting treatment. You should also call if the red area gets:

●Bigger

●More swollen

●More painful

Your doctor or nurse might do another exam or tests to see if you need different medicines.

Can skin infections be prevented?

Sometimes. If you cut your skin, make sure to wash the area well with soap and water. This can help prevent the area from getting infected. If you have a long-term skin condition, ask your doctor or nurse what you can do to help prevent infections.

What is erythema multiforme?

Erythema multiforme is a condition that causes red spots on the skin. The spots often have a dark center surrounded by pale red rings, like a target or bull’s-eye. Sometimes, the spots have blisters.

The spots can appear in different places on the body, including the:

●Arms and legs

●Chest and back

●Face and neck

●Palms of the hands

●Soles of the feet

●Lips, tongue, and gums

●Genital area

Sometimes, erythema multiforme affects the eyes. When this happens, the whites of the eyes can look red.

The spots might itch or burn. Some people have a fever and feel tired and achy before the spots appear. The spots usually show up over 3 to 5 days. They disappear in about 2 weeks.

What causes erythema multiforme?

Most of the time, erythema multiforme is caused by an infection. But medicines can cause erythema multiforme, too.

Are there tests I should have?

Your nurse or doctor should be able to tell if you have erythema multiforme by looking at your skin and doing an exam. They might also take a small skin sample and a blood sample. These samples will help your doctor make sure your symptoms aren’t being caused by another medical condition.

Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better?

Yes. You can try putting a cool, damp cloth on the area with the spots. If you have a fever or feel achy, you can take over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol).

How is erythema multiforme treated?Treatments include medicines to ease itching and pain. Some medicines are creams that you rub on your skin. Others are pills.

If you have spots in your mouth, your doctor might give you a special mouthwash to help relieve the pain.

If your eyes are red or uncomfortable, you might need to see an eye doctor.

Can erythema multiforme be prevented?

If your condition was caused by a medicine, do not take that medicine again. Talk to your doctor or nurse about switching to a different medicine.

Some people who are infected with a certain virus keep getting erythema multiforme over and over again. If you get erythema multiforme more than several times a year, talk with your doctor or nurse. They might give you a medicine to take every day that will help keep you from getting it so often.