ruptured polish sausage sized lump on upper leg

[jandersson]

A lump appeared about a week ago at the top of my right leg.
It has grown to the size of a Polish sausage and last night ruptured and has since not stopped leaking blood and puss but has stayed the same size. I have tried hydrocortizone when the lump first appeared, which stung but reduced the swelling temporarily, then I used a triple anti-biotic cream which didn't seem to have any affect. Now I just wash it and cover it with gauze. I am from England and do not have health insurance, also I can not afford to check myself in to a hospital. I would like to know what it is and what I can do about it please. Thankyou

[popeye4321]

I am prone to boils, and it sounds like that is what you have. Especially if it had a head on it before it burst. Some larger boils have more than one head. Be careful, boils are a staph infection, and they can spread. Make sure you keep it clean, and wash your hands thouroghly after treating the infected area. Bleach your bathtub after using it. If you get more than one, you need to go to the Dr. and get an antibiotic. Since they are a staph infection, they can also pass from person to person. And they can get quite large before draining.

[pertykitty]

oh be carefull with infection. make sure you dont see a red line going up your leg. you also have to make sure the infection doesnt get too bad it can effect other parts or organs in your body. id find a way to go to the dr as soon as you can. can you make payments to a dr office??

[ryn21]

You should try cleansing the area with peroxide or hibiclens.  Use a topical gel like bacitracin to help speed up the healing process.  Keep the area clean.  If it gets worse, I would see a doctor no matter what the cost may be.

[jd1419]

It sounds like you had either a boil or an ingrown hair that got trapped and got infected.  I use an over the counter antibiotic cream and keep it covered with gauze as you are doing. Next time you clean it just look to see if there is a hair trapped in there and try to get it out with tweezers.  Do not dig as this could cause more problems.  Though if it does not clear up in a weeks time I would go to the doctor--a $75.00 office charge will be better than having more serious problems later on.  Or even try to find a free clinic if you are in a big city.