Suggest Treatment For Boil On Hand

Posted on Sun, 25 May 2014

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

Sun, 25 May 2014 Answered on

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband had, what looked like a boil on his hand, convinced that it was a sliver that he could not get out (it had been there for several weeks).
I punctured it with a sterilized needle and lots of fluid came out; a thick clear substance. As he continued to press on it an inch of thread-like goo came out. What is it and what should we do at this point?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
abscess, antibiotics

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query.
Probably it was an abscess.
You have already drained it so primary treatment is done.
Please don't press it further as the infection may spread.
At present he needs oral and topical antibiotics.
If possible upload a photograph of the affected area. This will help me in giving a closer diagnosis and a better way of management. There is an option to upload photos on right side of query page.
Please utilize it.
Waiting for your response.
Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar