Help, friend got scratched during scuba diving, now got a skin infection

wswgin on 01/10/2016 - 19:34
Last edited 01/10/2016 - 19:51 by 1 other user

Hi all,

A friend recently visited Carins went scuba diving, leg got scratched by a coral or rock, the first 2 days were fine, she went back overseas, it quickly turned into a rash and infection, itchy and hurting. Went to the local doctor, but they seem to have no idea what it is, gave her antibiotics for 2 days, doesn't seem to be working. The rash turned to be worse, and some part of skin turned black.

Now it's been almost 3 weeks since she got scratched, still hasn't show signs of getting better, she does not have a fever or other symptoms.

I want to help them, but not sure where to ask, fellow ozbargainers, if any of you have any knowledge about this or know where can I go to get help, please let me know.

Thanks a lot, I've uploaded a few photos, link below

This one was taken about 4 days after, rash starting to show
http://i63.tinypic.com/rrvchs.jpg

This one was taken yesterday
http://i67.tinypic.com/j73lp0.jpg

Thanks a lot

Health & Beauty

Comments

      • eug on 05/10/2016 - 14:58

        This doctor says to go to a hospital. So who's right?

        • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2016 - 15:01
          +1

          To clarify - is it life threatening? Yes/No? If yes, go to hospital, if no, stay home or go to GP.

          Internet diagnosis by non-professionals is never going to lead to good outcomes. But saying as a catch-all, 'go to hospital' is not the right approach either. Common sense should prevail - thus the question must be asked, why would someone with a leg injury be asking for help on a bargain forum?

      • Baebs on 05/10/2016 - 15:42

        I haven't seen the images since this is Ozbargain not /r/wtf however I doubt it is a fair comparison to a sore throat/cough.

        http://imgur.com/gallery/2XrUs serves as a lesson to never (profanity) with rare infections that resist treatment. Your health >> "clogging up the system."

        • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2016 - 15:47

          Or many people's health >> your health

        • Baebs on 05/10/2016 - 15:55

          @faceman54:
          It's all down to perspective, best of luck to you should you expect to "sleep off" future health issues.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2016 - 17:02

          @Baebs: I have a healthy diet, exercise regularly and don't have a family history of any significant health issues.

          Have fun sitting in a clogged ER room with sick people coughing all over you resulting in your body trying to fight multiple infections at the same time.

        • Baebs on 05/10/2016 - 18:36

          @faceman54: I've actually never been to the hospital lol.

      • Deridas on 07/10/2016 - 07:14

        Hey mate, a limb threatening infection is clearly an initiation to go to hospital ED.

  • OneJay on 02/10/2016 - 22:26

    In hindsight, she should have cauterised the wound.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2016 - 22:31

    First pic is nowhere near diagnostically useful.

    Second pic is a bit better but still well in the realms of inadequate.

    Looks like edges aren't as raised, don't see any discharge, no sloughing.

    Assuming that the following are true based on it being omitted - no fever, malaise, nausea, continuous bleeding - doesn't sound like an infectious disease.

    This is not a diagnosis. Just an elimination based on observation.

  • bdl on 02/10/2016 - 23:53
    +6

    Apply Eneloops

    • eneloop on 03/10/2016 - 06:34
      +9

      Yes I'm here to help your lady friend

  • CVonC on 02/10/2016 - 23:55
    +3

    COOOORRRRRRRRAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

  • Froot Loops on 03/10/2016 - 08:50
    +6

    Hello,

    Im not a medical doctor, but i do work in the field. I work within the microbes and pharmacological sector. She needs to see a GP or get her hands on some antibiotics. The infection is getting to the point of being serious.
    As you have stated its getting worse and will countine to do so until treated.
    More than like 1-2 course of an antibiotic will treat that.
    There is no point of asking here as the coral mostlikely did NOT do this. The wound came from that, but the infection would have came from something very shortly after.
    Please don't look for online advise. Most people will send you down the wrong track. Also keep in mind 1 in 5 drugs on the market are fake (Not ask described), with the highest amount being in China (Buying from corner store or markets or online). Don't cheap out. Spend the extra now, see a doctor and get treatment before it gets worse.

    Best of luck

    • ITveteran on 06/10/2016 - 19:42
      -2

      Well said mate. And you know China pretty well. They fake almost everything even with drugs. That's why I feel sick with seeing so many 'deals' from cheap Chinese online shops, Aliexpress in particular.

  • srnoz on 03/10/2016 - 10:02
    +1

    Mate,

    If you are looking for an Aussie doc's opinion, try online GP consultations. I've heard of https://gp2u.com.au/ but haven't used it. There could be other options too. Keep in mind that you need a reliable internet connection and a good camera. It seems not covered by Medicare and you have to pocket out the full cost. Hopefully your travel insurance covers it.

    Hope it helps and your friend recovers soon.

  • dealman on 03/10/2016 - 14:12

    DUDE,
    Sounds like a perfect case for > https://www.crowdmed.com/

  • Shanda on 03/10/2016 - 17:26
    +1

    Also recommend she go to a hospital. This is a common problem with coral.

  • c64 on 03/10/2016 - 20:04

    diabetics can have problems with scratches on feet

  • neosin on 03/10/2016 - 21:58
    +3

    IT'S A TURMORRRRR!

    • McFly on 05/10/2016 - 12:59
      +3

      It's not a toomar!

      • neosin on 05/10/2016 - 21:45

        You Yellow?

  • PVA on 03/10/2016 - 22:01
    +1

    go to another doctor.

    antibiotics are usually for a week, never know a two day dose.

    • Kapinny on 06/10/2016 - 00:47

      lol

  • justwaitingforamate on 03/10/2016 - 23:00

    As a long time traveling surf bum
    For anyone wanting to avoid the inevitable infection that you WILL get if you are cut by corral
    Reef cuts and scrapes 101:
    Hydrogen peroxide (diluted as if not mixed can delay healing process as it's a little too aggressive strait up)and a toothbrush = you must remove corral (it has microscopic little spikes with barbs on it so if you just leave it it will get infected) even on small scrapes, it sucks but you have to manually brush the cut with peroxide as soon as possible (that day). Do it well and you'll only have to do it once. From the next day on just dab any antiseptic (bedadine ect) on the wound. If you are in hot and humid areas (if your cut on reef highly likely) and want to keep surfing or diving ect get your hands on Tieh Ta Yao Gin it's a Chinese medicine mix you can find through certain parts if Asia and a fair few Aussie surf shops, it's the sh@$, tried and tested by most surf bums that have spent any time in indo (= nearly all).
    Disclaimer :This is only for scrapes and is preventative mesure prior to infection (though I have treated and ready mildly infected coral scrapes like this)
    Obviously not what you would be trying with black necrotic tissue like op discribed.

    • grimo82 on 03/10/2016 - 23:16

      +1 for peroxide - hurts like hell - will need multiple 'friends' to hold you down and scrub it on big scrapes (ala hitting the reef surfing) but tried and tested….. Among those lacking true medical assistance or 'friends' .

    • MessyG on 04/10/2016 - 21:03
      +2

      Please do not wash out a wound with hydrogen peroxide. This is outdated medical advice. It's used in certain situations under general anaesthesia and not for open wounds. It used to be used by GPs way back but it absolutely delays wound healing and causes all sorts of complications. Once you've seen a patient 'treated' with HP for a wound, and they die from that wound, you'll get why.

  • DEvok on 04/10/2016 - 03:20
    -5

    She's still alive right? Walking and eating normally? Like the song goes Let it go! let it go! She willl be fine. She's been tot the doc and they say it's fine cause it isn't serious and should heal overtime.

  • Tasmaniac on 04/10/2016 - 05:05

    Sounds nasty man, those coral are a hive for all kinds of organic crazyness. I think your friend needs to get those bacteria nuked or neutralized straight away.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2016 - 08:43
    +2

    Dora the explora bandaid on it and walk it off.

    Seriously the docs would need to do some test to find out what they are looking at and it will take time to figure out.

    • CandyMan on 04/10/2016 - 12:24
      +1

      The sponge bob ones work better

  • aussie bargain on 04/10/2016 - 13:40
    +1

    I wonder why you would try to seek your answers here.
    It's obvious that it is a skin infection of some sort (which should be treatable using some sort of antibiotics).

    Tell your friend to go to a good reputable doctor in China.
    If a GP doesn't know about it, go to a dermatologist, they should know about it.
    I am very surprised that the doctor(s) your friend has gone to doesn't know how to treat it.

    You really don't want to delay these kind of things, as these are the sort of things that actually kill people back before we know anything about penicillin.

    • ghostdom on 04/10/2016 - 15:27

      No GP in China

    • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2016 - 18:20

      Alot of discoveries where by chance.

      And thanks to both world wars a lot of advancements or breakthroughs or discoveries where made then.

  • ZippyRoo on 04/10/2016 - 16:21

    Some corals are toxic and can cause infections. Like what everyone else said here, your friend should seek proper medical advice, not relying on other people's experiences. There are a lot of infections which might start the same but are caused by completely different things and will end very differently. If one doctor doesn't know, then find another doctor somewhere else. Ask the doctors to do some research even, but don't attempt to self diagnose yourself. The wound does look like it's healing but that's one nasty scratch!

    Also, correct me if I'm wrong, I've never heard of antibiotics on a 2-day course. Aren't they usually a lot longer?

    • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2016 - 18:18

      Workmate got pricked by some shwarf from an impeller for a pump that pump raw sewage and i have never seen an arm puff up like that before…. his arm blew uo to double its original size with in 36 hours and the docs at the local hospital had no idea and were pumping him full of meds a set at a time that lasted 2 days then go for another set and hope something will do something.

      The major concern is if the inflammation went across his chest. But after a week of smashing leagal drugs and doing tests on him to see if the drugs have done stuff the infection started to go down but took a long time and lotta drugs.

  • apptrack on 04/10/2016 - 17:59

    Happened to me in Cairns, I just put on antiseptic cream on for a week and it went away…

    Everyones different :)

    • CVonC on 04/10/2016 - 23:21

      would peeing on it work? like with a jellyfish sting?

      friends episode anyone?

  • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2016 - 19:14
    +3

    Vibriosis (Non-Cholera) infection. Your friend needs to be treated with doxycycline or a quinolone antibiotic ASAP.

    • MessyG on 05/10/2016 - 20:38
      +1

      This is the only piece of medical advice dispensed on this thread that I would take back to the doctors in China - it absolutely needs to be excluded or correctly diagnosed.

  • matt-ozb on 04/10/2016 - 22:51

    Antibiotics and some minor surgery to cut out the dead flesh to let it heal.

    This is serious. Get to a doctor asap.

  • venu on 05/10/2016 - 00:26
    +3

    @wswgin I understand your concern for your friend, however I would advise you NOT to pass on ANY medical advice (regarding diagnosis or management) that you receive here onto your friend. This advice should come solely from a medical practitioner who has assessed the patient in person.

    If the antibiotics are not working, he/she needs to return to their medical practitioner for further investigation and management given failure of first-line treatment. My only other general advice is to obtain all investigation results (wound swab and culture, blood cultures, x-ray, ultrasound, MRI results) from any other healthcare site that he/she visited and bring that with them.

    Take home message: Advise your friend to gather all investigation results from other hospitals/clinics and return to their primary doctor.
    Please acknowledge this and advise the moderators to close this thread. The advice provided on this forum is extremely concerning to say the least.

    Disclaimer: I'm a Doctor.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2016 - 06:35
      +1

      This advice should come solely from a medical practitioner who has assessed the patient in person.

      The doctor did and had no clue. Hence the thread.

      Doctors are also human, not gods. They are not supposed to know everything. This case, if treated in Australia, would have had a better chance of resolution compared to China where reef wounds are not that common. Some of the advice here is good and if presented to the doctor, might help him to think out of the norm and even do some research about it.

      So op, please go ahead and let your Friend tell it to the doctor. Doctor can then decide whether to act on it or not.

      PS: Your friend got nice legs ;)

      • venu on 05/10/2016 - 11:23
        +2

        Hi ms.

        I understand where you are coming from. However the information the OP has given is incomplete and as such the advice provided here may actually do harm. Eg. The first picture itself shows the patient was an inpatient at a hospital receiving intravenous therapy. The patient may well be on the road to recovery after having received all the necessary treatment (prior to the advice that his/her concerned friend gives them).

        I don't believe you can generalise and say this case would have had better resolution in Australia. The doctor doesn't necessarily need to know about coral related skin infections. A wound swab and culture can often identify the pathogen and appropriate antibiotics can be given.

        A local doctor should review the wound to ensure resolution, and if the patient is concerned that it's getting worse, he/she should inform the doctor and/or seek a second opinion.

  • Brendoo on 05/10/2016 - 06:30
    +1

    Is this for real? Seriously, have your friend go to another doctor, not one who says "I don't know what it is". Your friend may be at risk of losing their foot/leg or worse. Don't stuff around in on-line forums for something that may be serious. For a non-medical person, but fellow human, that wound does not look good, it looks infected.

  • serrin on 05/10/2016 - 17:46

    You friend should probably get the wound biopsied and have the samples sent for standard microbial cultures as well as AFB/mycobacterial cultures. I'm going to assume they have covered for the typical skin Staphs and Streps so that basically leaves Mycobacterium marinium, Vibrio, Aeromonas species.
    As venu said, you should not pass on advice you obtain from randoms on some random internet forum, but I have seen doctors work in China and they often have a, how do you say, lack of appreciation for the finer points regarding infectious diseases. At the end of the day, if you don't have an organism, you're shooting blind, and you're going to end up shooting the patient with random antibiotics.
    Not going to spout my qualifications on a random internet forum. I am just another wandering Rando Calrissian.

    • UFO on 06/10/2016 - 14:16

      … or his better known brother Lando Calrissian ;).

  • Godric on 05/10/2016 - 18:04

    Pick up a 100hp medipack

  • drfuzzy on 05/10/2016 - 19:04
    +3

    "health advice" threads such as this should not be allowed on OzBargain. It is not in the interest of the OP or the community.

    • ITveteran on 06/10/2016 - 19:58
      +4

      Cannot agree with you. In fact I have learned quite something here and definitely will be very careful with coral and other things of the ocean in the future.

  • Kamsi on 06/10/2016 - 00:02
    +1

    Obviously, the wound wasn't taken care off in the first instance. Antibodies and good bandage ( not those ozbargain one) will probably do the job. Good luck to your friend.

  • malouphix on 06/10/2016 - 13:23

    Get a second opinion or lookup a tropical disease doctor.

    Otherwise, this could be the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse!

  • UFO on 06/10/2016 - 14:14

    NEOSPORIN fixes everything!

    Not to be confused with "Lic-ha-wid Ni-tree-gee-hun".

  • lonix on 06/10/2016 - 20:50
    -1

    I see where this is going, you want help to sue the Australian government?

  • subywagon on 07/10/2016 - 00:17

    Shouldn't take krokodil…

  • kumars47 on 07/10/2016 - 09:09

    Does your friend normally reside in Australia? Does she have Medicare? If yes to both questions, Tell her to cut her holiday(if it is a holiday) short and come back to Australia to get properly treated if she can't get help overseas.

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