topic Re: Question about kids and boils. in Community Spirit

Question about kids and boils.

aspie*mum — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:42:01 GMT

I have already had the child in question at the doctor - TWICE. I am taking her again tomrrow so not after medical advice. I'm just not convinced she's getting the best care and have no experience with "boils" and their treatment so wondering if others do. Child will be 7 in May.

Child appeared to have a mosquito/insect bite on her leg (inner knee area) on Thursday evening. It gradually got larger and larger (but didn't itch). Sunday morning I had decided it defiantly was NOT a mosquito bite so took her to the doctor at lunch time. My GP doesn't work Sunday's so saw someone else ($83.00) at our clinic. Doctor S pretty much implied I was being a paranoid, over reacting mother, despite me pointing out over and over that it wasn't itching and a mosquito bite wouldn't grow that much over 4 days (was over the size of a 50cent piece). She prescribed a steroid cream and said it would be gone by morning.

When I bathed the little one (later than usual) at 7.30 I was horrified to see it was now even bigger and pussy - it looked like a boil! AND there was a 2nd one on her other knee. The GP clinic we go to was closed by the time I got her out of the bath and dressed (8pm) so I went to a late night bulk billing clinic where Doctor R told me it was boils, and she needed antibiotics by mouth and an antibiotic cream!

Then we got home about 9.30pm and she promptly got a blood nose which bled for over half and hour. Nothing to do with the boils, but made it a VERY late night.

But TODAY, she has the 2 boils from Sunday, plus another 4 developing. I would have thought that with the antibiotics she would have not started to develop more of them?

I am taking her to my GP first thing tomorrow (Tuesday morning), because I'm just not convinced she's getting the right treatment?

Any experience?

Should she keep getting boils when she's started her treatment? She is otherwise a very healthy little girl.

I am treating the boils exactly as suggested EXCEPT I can't clean them with an antibacterial wash as my daughter is allergic.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

esseco46 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:15:56 GMT

Hi aspie*mum,

The first thing I need to tell you is to make sure you and your daughter wash your hands after touching the boils.

I googled treating them at home and found quite a few websites - it might be worthwhile having a look on the web where you might find some relief for your daughter before her doctor's appointment.

Good luck and I hope you get some positive help.

Cheers,

Re: Question about kids and boils.

**otoli** — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:38:33 GMT

Definitely hygiene is a major factor here, Bactrim and bactroban and cover them to help prevent spread. Bathing in betadine (2capfuls etc) will also help.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

monman12 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:58:54 GMT

I would suggest you research some medical sites on the Internet, start with:-

cause of boils in children

Re: Question about kids and boils.

catsnknots — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:05:41 GMT

You really should have told the doctor about your daughter being allergic to the antibacterial wash if that is what was prescribed... use a saline solution until you can go back to the doctor and get another suggestion or go to the chemist...

One type of boil is an infected hair follicle or gland... others are caused by a staph bug... they need to be cleaned...

If you got home at 9.30pm on Sunday night she has only had 24 hours on the antibiotics, you need between 24 to 48 hours for a real effect to start taking place particularly if it is a staph infection...

If they do not start to clear up you might want to ask for a swab to be taken so that you know they are giving her the right antibiotics.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

kopenhagen5 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:18:15 GMT

To add -

A small boil may burst and drain on its own without any assistance. In some instances, however, draining can be encouraged by application of a cloth soaked in warm salt water. Washing and covering the furuncle with antibiotic cream or antiseptic tea tree oil and a bandage also promotes healing.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

kopenhagen5 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:19:05 GMT

BTW, has she has blood noses before?

Re: Question about kids and boils.

cat_mioux — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:36:57 GMT

Maybe it's the weather but I have 3 boils. 2 on my lower stomach and 1 on my inner thigh. I had no idea what they were. I've been on antibiotics and using a warm compress and wiping them with Betadine. I only use a towel once then wash it in bleach.

Mine have improved and no longer feel tender.

I asked my GP what causes them and he said you can get them when you feel run down.

I hope your daughter feels better soon.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

twinkles**stars — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:28:53 GMT

While building our house ( owner builders) some 26 years ago we all came down with boils:(...doctors couldn't find a reason for it but I have always wondered about the quality of water we were drinking and using being the first to build in the area. The water pipes in that area had been empty until we requested the mains be turned on.

This episode lasted well over a year with my middle child and myself affected most.

I hope your little one recovers quickly.....maybe some extra vitamin intake and vitamin e for healing.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

lionrose.7 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:46:03 GMT

You can buy this white sticky stuff at the chemist to draw boils out, I cant remember the name of it but it is very good.

You also must run a empty hot wash with a bleach or simular through you washing machine.

I was told this years ago by a doctor.

Germs like to sit in washing machines.

I would ask you doctor to do a blood test on your daughter.

Keep the boil covered.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

twinkles**stars — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:54:38 GMT

Magnoplasm?

Re: Question about kids and boils.

kengillard — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:01:32 GMT

I used to have them as a child.....about 70 years ago.

Old fashioned poultice that worked to draw them out and help them drain.

Heated castor oil covered with a spinach leaf. the leaf seals around the edges and draws out the boil. Apply and leave for 24 hours.

But I'm sure there are more modern methods available at the chemist these days:-D

Re: Question about kids and boils.

lionrose.7 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:22:13 GMT

We used to get hot bread poultice as children, used to hurt like hell, but worked and a soap and sugar poultice for bee strings

Re: Question about kids and boils.

foxette-in-sox — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:45:06 GMT

I have an older friend who breaks out in horrific boils when she is extremely stressed.The doctor has to lance them & then give her antibiotics.She is otherwise an extremely healthy & fit lady & no hygeine or overweight issues.

I know you are talking about a child but just wonder if she's bothered by something & this may be her body's way of showing it ?

Re: Question about kids and boils.

azureline** — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:37:34 GMT

Bacterial infection usually. As a 14 yo I hade about 20 of them over a year, one after the other. I was hospitalised for 2 weeks and given iv antibiotics and have never had another.

Re: Question about kids and boils.

lionrose.7 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:45:25 GMT

You used to be able to get these silver pills from the chemist many years ago, dont think they sell them any more.

One of my boys got a boil because he had a mosquito bite and was playing in the mud by the lake, doc says Duck poo the worst for creating boils

Re: Question about kids and boils.

b3llag1na — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:42:57 GMT

My oldest child used to get small boils all the time... ALL the time... this started when she was very little.

We couldn't have her on antibiotics constantly (and couldn't afford to) - my sister suggested washing her with tea tree oil soap ( at that time quite hard to find) and also putting tea tree oil into the washing machine when washing her clothes and bedding.

And showers, not baths.

Slowly, over about a month, the boils disappeared.

She would still get break outs occasionally, but we just dabbed them with diluted tea tree and they would heal.

Now I would hit them with pure lavender oil, but I didn't know about this stuff back then!

Re: Question about kids and boils.

ashjoma — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:57:50 GMT

sounds similar to what my child had - my child scratched himself on the back of his leg on a water slide at a motel play area.

came up in 'boils'

- it is most likely a staph infection - google 'school sores' or impetigo - does this look similar ? develops a yellowish crust

If so - is HIGHLY infectious and for is, I had it twice and my husband as well.

Wash clothes and towels / bedding separately and hang on line in sun.

exposing to the sun will help dry these out. they are painful. Antibiotics if spreading, otherwise antibacterial cream eg bactroban and expose to the sun - otherwise keep a light cover on top.

I had a minor scratch on my hand and I got this twice from my child - it was painful but did clear up with antibiotics.

these are often recurrent. My GP friend always used to warn his patients of this and he recommended a soap such as sapoderm antibacterial soap.

also see your Dr if these are recurrent - she needs a fingerprick blood glucose reading to rule out an undiagnosed diabetes

I feel the first GP did not give you incorrect advice or treatment or anything like that - - many GP's will not rush into antibiotics because of the increasing issues of antibiotics resistance. She acted on the appearance of it on the day.

However now it is spreading, antibiotics are appropriate as per your next visit

Re: Question about kids and boils.

sammee4211 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:56:33 GMT

I had boils on my legs when I was 9. My mother told me it was because I didn't eat my beans lol. Anyway, off to the Doc for antibiotics. My mother was the cleanest person I ever met and we have no idea really how I got them.

They didn't respons to anti b's or anything else on the market at that time (many decades ago) so my mother decided there was only one thing that would work. We lived one street away from the beach and off we went for me to swim in the salt water.

That night, they broke open, Mum cleaned them and by morning, they were almost gone. By the following night, no more boils but I did get a couple of scars.

Someone suggested a saline mixture and I totally agree or a dip in the surf.

All the best 🙂

Re: Question about kids and boils.

aspie*mum — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:06:10 GMT

1. Thanks for the suggestions to research it in on the internet - I did that before posting. Lots of causes etc. but I was wanting people's personal experiences - not facts and figures.

2. I did tell the doctor she cannot have antibacterial products, and he simply said "Don't use them". He's not our GP or at our clinic so he has no access to her history and allergy testing.

3. She is a VERY anxious child (she has Aspergers Syndrome). She goes to weekly psychology sessions to work on this, as well as a social skills group. Short of putting her on anxiety drugs (which I am not prepared to do - if she chooses to at 18 that is her choice but I will NOT drug a child with a developing brain). I try to keep her anxiety at a minimum but unfortunately she is having "friendship fights" at school and probably the stress from that has lowered her immunity.

4. I did consider teatree oil myself (But wasn't sure if she was allergic or not). I put a small amount on her arm and she came up in a big red spot, so wasn't game to try it on the boils! But great suggestion.

5. Back to our GP today, she's put her on stronger antibiotics and we will continue with the cream.

6. The doctor assures me it's NOT a hygiene issues and like Cat Miox suggested, they appear often in heat as they can come from blocked sweat glands and if you have a scratch a pool is a great place to pick up the bacteria (She does swimming lessons & goes to the pool once or twice a week).

7. Thanks for the advice on if they are recurrent - I will defiantly be on to that. She is at the RCH for more allergy tests next Monday, so when she has her blood tests I will ask them to test for the bacteria as well. Should be easy to just put it onto the other tests? (I guess?)

Thanks again for all the helpful posts! I really appreciate it!