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February 9, 2012

Patient Discussions: Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus) - Length Symptoms Lasted

Question:How long did the symptoms of your staph infection (staphylococcus aureus) last?

Published: July 09

My symptoms lasted several months before physician knew what it was. We tried antibiotic after antibiotic and nothing helped. I had several painful boils come up on my right and left that had to be drained. Which was very painful. I also had a boil appear on the back of my right ankle. It was so painful that I could not walk. I was on some serious paid killers and my physician finally admitted me to the hospital. I was given IV antibiotics and potassium along with the paid medication that I was on. I guess that I was one of the lucky ones that it didn't affect to seriously. However, since my illness, my life has not been the same. I am prone to being more tired and my muscles and bones will ache for no special reason. My advice to anyone who thinks they may have this disease to seek treatment immediately! MY advise to anyone who thinks they may have this disease to seek treatment immediately!!!!!!!!!

Related Reading: boils

Published: July 09

My boyfriend, who is 22, got his first infection when he was 21 on his right knee. It got so bad that he had to be rushed to the hospital. Then a month later he got his second one on his lower leg. He was told to wash or change his sheets every day or it could carry. A week later I ended up with Staff on my lower back. Couldn't it be transferred from towels and anything else staff touched?

Published: July 07

I have had staph infections reoccurring for roughly 6 years now. Mine appear on the inner thigh and lower back and buttocks. They appear in carbuncles. To help control these the best combination of things would be Panoxyl , Bactron Mupirocin (prescribed by your doctor) nasal ointment and topical cream. Use the topical cream on the areas where the infection is and this will in most cases prevent the need for it to be lanced and drained. Also, shower in very hot water and always use the anti-bacterial soap.

Related Reading: Mupirocin

Published: July 07

I had open heart surgery for repair of the mitral valve. I was in the hospital 5 days. I was sent home with a staph infection. I started running temp of 104. I went to emergency in my home town. The doctor got on the ball. He lanced this, and my family watched him do this procedure. They said they never saw such a mess of puss, and it was terrible. I just today got off of the wound vac machine. I have suffered so much with this.

Related Reading: staph infection

Published: July 07

My 12 month old recently got a scratch on his behind (he often scratched himself during diaper changes). A few days later I saw what looked like a bug bite next to the scratch. I wasn't too concerned until about two hours later this bug bite extended from his but to his hip. It was swollen, red and hot. I took him to his pediatrician who gave us an oral and topical antibiotic, took a culture, and told us to come back in 48 hrs. Within a day the swollen and hard area had extended so far on his leg that he could not walk. I sought a second opinion who admitted him to the hospital for IV antibiotics. He was discharged after two days and sent home w/ 10 days of oral antibiotics. The culture taken confirmed that the infection was staph. How long will my 12 month old have to take these antibiotics?

Published: July 02

I first had a hang nail get severely infected. I am a tradesman and usually heal quickly but have been going through severe stress lately so didn't think too much of it. But every cut and scrape got infected then got these 'pimples', 2-3 per day, that got very sore, swelled up, pussy, and infected. Fortunately, mostly on my hands and some on my arms and chest. I started taking oregano oil. I took 4-5 drops several times a day and using tea tree oil on the wounds. I also started taking an echinacea mixture, ginkgo biloba, and Golden Seal in the morning. Only got one more of these 'pimples' and the rest have improved; less sore, swelling subsided, and some have dried up and are healing. It has been 5 days since I started 'treating' this affliction.

Related Reading: stress | echinacea | ginkgo

Published: June 20

My 19 yr. old daughter has had 5 separate staph infections since she was junior in high school. We have no idea how she became infected, but the first infection appeared as a red bump on the side of her knee, which we thought at first was a mosquito bite. It became red and swollen, and then we became concerned it was a spider bite, so took her to the dr. who said no, it's a staph infection. The dr. had to lance it and clean the wound, and put her on antibiotics. Then we had to take her to the dr. every day for a week to have the wound cleaned and rebandaged. She had to be on antibiotics for a month. It finally cleared up. Then 6 months later she had another infection on her forearm, then a few months later one under her armpit, then a few months later another one on her leg. She has not had one for about a year, and suddenly now she has two areas of infection on her lower stomach. This time the dr. told us it was MRSA. The infection doesn't seem that bad, yet...but I can't help wondering how many more of these infections is she going to have before one of them kills her? She is only 19.

Related Reading: MRSA


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Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus) - Treatments Question: What did your staph infection look like?

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Suggested Reading on Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus) by Our Doctors

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    • Pneumonia
      • Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
    • Boils
      • A boil is a skin abscess, a collection of pus localized deep in the skin. There are several different types of boils. Among them are the following: furuncle or carbuncle, Cystic acne, Hidradenitis suppurativa, and Pilonidal cyst.
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      • Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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      • MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms: cellulitis, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, styes, and boils. Normal skin tissue doesn't usually allow MRSA infection to develop. Individuals with depressed immune systems and people with cuts, abrasions, or chronic skin disease are more susceptible to MRSA infection.
    • Sty (Stye)
      • A sty (sometimes spelled stye) is a tender, painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash or on, inside, or under the eyelid, which is the result of an acute infection of the oil glands of the eyelid. Complications of a sty can be blepharitis and chalazion.
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      • Impetigo is a contagious skin infection caused by staph and strep bacteria. There are two types of impetigo: non-bullous and bullous. Symptoms of non-bullous impetigo include small blisters on the nose, face, arms, or legs and possibly swollen glands. Bullous impetigo symptoms include blisters in various areas, particularly in the buttocks area. Treatment involves gentle cleansing, removing the crusts of popped blisters, and the application of prescription-strength mupirocin antibiotic ointment.
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    • Cuts, Scrapes and Puncture Wounds
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    • Spider Bites (Including Black Widow and Brown Recluse)
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    • Toxic Shock Syndrome
      • Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a condition caused by toxins formed by Staphylococcus aureus or group A Streptococcus bacteria. Signs and symptoms include fever, low blood pressure, rash, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Left untreated, the patient will experience confusion, dizziness, headaches, seizures, and multiorgan failure. Treatment involves intravenous fluids and antibiotics, oxygen administration, surgery to drain the source of infection, and removal of tampons, nasal packings, or other sources of infection.
    • Blepharitis
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Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus)

Pneumonia facts

  • Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
  • Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with sputum production, fever, and sharp chest pain on inspiration (breathing in).
  • Pneumonia is suspected when a doctor hears abnormal sounds in the chest, and the diagnosis is confirmed by a chest X-ray.
  • Bacteria causing pneumonia can be identified by sputum culture.
  • A pleural effusion is a fluid collection around the inflamed lung.
  • Bacterial and fungal (but not viral) pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died fro...

Read the Pneumonia article »







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