boils/blisters/extremely red all over butt

[angel666874]

I am taking care of my 75 year old grandmother. She just got discharged from the hospital for pnemonia that was viral and bacterial in her blood stream. Anyway, she got these horrible boils on her butt and on the inside of her legs. They are bloody, *****, grayish and definetly infected. BRIGHT RED EVERYWHERE especially around her butt hole and vagina. Also around her legs. She is on antibiotics still from the hospital but these are causeing her extreme pain. The dermatologist saw her while in the hospital and didn't know what it was. I just don't know what to put on it or do. The nurse is coming tomorrow to see her but she needs relief ASAP. I put antibiotic cream and lotion on it. don't know if thats ok.

[geminigirl1963]

I also was thinking bed sores since you said she had been in the hospital.  Unfortunately the nursing staff typically does not have time or staffing resources to be able to help a patient move as often as they should if they're not able to do it on their own.  And laying in the same position for too long can cause bed sores.  Even just being in bed AND able to move around some can cause them - just from the pressure of the body on the sheets/mattress, etc.

You also mentioned that the sores are also on the inside of her legs and around her genitals - and mentioned that she's been on antibiotics.  Have the antibiotics affected her stools, such as giving her diarrhea or having to go more often?  If so, some of the sores could be from not being able to get fully cleaned after having  a bowel movement - or even if she is getting fully cleaned, but perhaps they or she were using a washcloth or wet wipes to clean her rather than regular toilet paper, and perhaps didn't fully DRY her skin - that moisture could help lead to sores, especially if she is having diarrhea - the skin is moist from cleaning, gets irritated and even broken from the sores/pressure in the bed - and then the bacteria from the stool gets into the wound, causing an infection.

As mentioned in a comment above, keep up with the antibiotic cream, but before applying it, make sure the area is well cleaned and well dried.  When the nurse comes to visit, you may also want to ask them about putting dressings on the wounds so they don't keep getting opened.

Another suggestion that you could ask her doctor or the nurse about would be something along the lines of Desityn (diaper ointment) - for the areas around her genitals.  As we all know, it works as a barrier for babies, so if the problem is related to stool/moisture/etc., it may help and allow the areas to heal.

I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted on how you and she are doing.

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,
These can be due to boils or pressure or bed sores. Apply warm compresses on the boil, keep on giving her the antibiotics and keep the area clean. Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head. Give some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination.

Also get her blood sugar levels checked as boils may be caused if sugar levels are raised.
I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[letreese]

Ask a pharmacist about a cream called boil ease. It helps with the boils but it still comes back so often. I have a friend who uses it when they have a boil. It busted after a few days of using it and it relieves him from his pain from the boil.