Question: Thank you. On 7/5/15 I awoke to a very swollen, sore and red knee. Saw a doc 7/6 who was concerned with a septic knee. They took fluid from knee (just a little was present) and sent it for culture which is not back yet. As a precaution, because I had been in Bermuda the week before, snorkeled and cut toes on reef, they put me on antibiotics. They doubt septic joint now but think it could be cellulitis, hence the antibiotics. Well, today I awoke to find itchy rashes all over my legs and arms too. I thought it was a flare-up of eczema, but my doctor did not think so but could not make a dx. I stopped by my local drugstore and he said this looks like poison ivy! Using over the counter steroid cream now.

All that said: can exposure to poison ivy or poison oak have caused the redness, swelling and pain to my knee? FYI, I tested negative for lyme. The need is still red and sore and swollen, although less than several days ago.

Thank you Dr Hudda. Yes, what I thought was poison ivy is very itchy on both legs and under both arms. A couple of the rashes have blisters on top that are clear and fluid filled. That said, all of the other rash patches (about 16 or so) are simply red. The skin was itchy the night before I developed the redness on 7/9. I had left message with my doctor's office that I thought this might be poison ivy, likely contracted on 7/4. She called back last night to say that she did not think so, but could not say what it was at this point. I recall having had similar rashes on the arms and legs 6-10 years ago for which I was prescribed 1% licoid cream which seemed to help as I recall. I thought they (another doctor) thought that it was eczema. At that time there was no other symptoms such as I am having now with the knee. (I have a longer hx of eczema going back 20 years, on my face for which I have used Eledel as needed.)

No recent hx of varicose veins or thrombophlebitis.

I was put on 1000 (2 x 500) mgs Ceftin (generic Cefuroxime Axetil) on 7/6; On 7/8 they added a broader spectrum antibiotic 200 mgs/ day (2 x 100) called Doxycycline. While the swelling and redness is improved on the knee this morning the knee is still sore and there is minimal to moderate edema in this leg from the knee on down to the ankle.

Yesterday the doctor did a blood draw for rheumatoid arthritis, and other tests, but told me that she thinks RA is unlikely.

Finally, all vital signs remain normal (BP, temp, heart rate). Thank you.

Thank you Dr Hudda. I was referred to a dermatologist yesterday who diagnosed it as drug reaction (Doxycycline) that I was put on Wednesday. Off that now.

They still have to come up with a diagnosis for the swollen knee.

Thank you.