Have Sore Legs And Red Boils On Calf. Feeling Warm To Touch. What Should Be Done?

Posted on Sat, 9 Mar 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 9 Mar 2013 Answered on

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I have what I think is a boil on my calf. It's got a dark scab and it's red, firm and warm to the touch for about an inch in diameter around it. It's painful. I don't recall it having the usual white head other boils I've had showed. I haven't expressed any pus out of it, and i've been afraid to remove the scab. I don't have a fever, but my leg is sore. What should I do about it?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (2 hours later)

Hello.
Thanks for the query.
I have seen the photograph attached by you, and it looks like a severe form of boils called as furunculosis, as there is a central dark punctum like area around a hair follicle and redness around it. This is typical of furunculosis.
You need to take oral antibiotics as well as apply topical mupirocine cream in that area for faster relief.
Please don’t neglect it as it may progress to cellulitis, which is very severe.
Let me know if you have any other doubt.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E