Infected Finger

[Guest guest]

Hi gang,

I had a small cut on my right index finger last week. It has now blossomed into

a full-blown infection with a huge red pus-filled " blob " present. My entire

finger is now quite swollen and painful. I'll go to the doctor this evening,

but do any of you know if the usual antibiotics given for this sort of thing are

a no-no for those of us on Humira and or Arava?

Thanks in advance,

Kathy F.

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Sorry to hear about your finger. I get alot of infections like that - I

have Feral cats and scratches turn into infections, into cellulitis into bone

infection. I am allergic to all but one family of antibiotics, so it is real

difficult for me to be treated. I have had cuts turn to pus with lines one

inch up. The Dr. has me soak it in Hydrogen Peroxide. I know what has been

said about Hydrogen Peroxide, but it works. The first time I soaked it for 10

minutes on every hour, the pain went from my finger all the way up to my

shoulder, the most piercing, burning pain. But I kept at it. The pain started

to subside by the first day, and after 2 it was well on the way to recovery.

Please check with your Dr., I have special circumstances. I was also taking

my temperature every hour, if I had a fever of 100, I was to check into the

hospital.

Hope your cure is as easy as mine,

Carol M. in CA

[Guest guest]

Kathy, sorry about your finger. I don't know the answer to your question

but I have taken Zithromax twice for sinus infection and nothing was said

about the fact that I take Arava. I too had a slight scratch which got very

angry looking but did clear up on it's own but definitely slower than usual.

I'm sure the PA meds contribute to that. Take care, Cheri

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/2/2004 3:42:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Pugnfriend@... writes:

Hi gang,

I had a small cut on my right index finger last week. It has now blossomed

into a full-blown infection with a huge red pus-filled " blob " present. My

entire finger is now quite swollen and painful. I'll go to the doctor this

evening, but do any of you know if the usual antibiotics given for this sort of

thing are a no-no for those of us on Humira and or Arava?

Hi Kathy,

You had better take care of that finger or you may end up with a cellulitis

and it can eventually lead to sepsis which is infection in the bloodstream.

I don 't know if there are any contraindications of antibiotics while on

these meds. I don't believe so. Please keep us posted.

Janet

[Editor's Note: Thank you, Janet. As you've probably read by now, I've been

the doctor and have been put on an antibiotic. I was very afraid of the

infection spreading which is why I went to the doctor within a couple of days of

this problem's onset. I hope this early intervention will nip it in the bud. I

appreciate your help. Kathy F.]

[Guest guest]

Thank you Cheri and Carol for your suggestions on my finger. I saw my GP

tonight and he agreed that it is infected (brilliant deduction, doc). He

prescribed dicloxacillin 4 times a day for 10 days. He verified in his handy

dandy

pocket pc that Humira and Arava are not contraindicated with the dicloxacillin.

I'm to try to keep the site clean and wash my hands thoroughly several times

a day. He didn't feel it was ready for lancing (thank gawd - I wasn't in the

mood for THAT!).

Thanks again.

Kathy F.