Infected leg- warning picture included!

[Jaxxon]

DH cut his leg two weeks ago, seemed to be healing ok but on Tuesday it started to feel hot and was slightly swollen, he went to out of hours but they fobbed him off. Over Wednesday at work it became really sore and red and hot and he had a temperature. Saw nurse at the GP yesterday evening and she started him on antibiotics. He’s only had two doses but so far it’s getting worse not better. It’s getting more red and swollen and he can’t really walk. How quickly should things start to improve or how long do we leave it before we do something else?

Oh that does look nasty. I'd get that seen again today (I'm a triage nurse).

Draw a line around the edge of the redness so any further spreading can be seen.

Antibiotics can take 24-48 hrs to "start to work" (in reality they work much faster but it takes a while for effects to be noticeable).

Thanks for quick reply- which bit of the redness? The top bit where it’s faintly red or the intense red bit?

Yes I’d go back today, you won’t be making a fuss

Go back today. I'm also currently on antibiotics for an infection in the skin of my foot. My sympathies to your DH!

My doctor told me that if it got WORSE at any point, to immediately go back. So do that! Go back go back.

Thanks, he went back and they told him to double the dose of antibiotics and go back on Monday if it’s not improved by then.
Redness hasn’t gone down, if anything it’s spread slightly since I drew the line this morning but not too much and he feels a bit better generally today I think.

Yikes that looks painful!

It looks like cellulitis which can be very serious.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cellulitis/