Phlegmon?

[AntsMommy]

At hospital right now. Son had severe abdominal pain, ct scan shows a mass near his stricture that they said looks like a phlegmon? They are doing surg consult and calling his mt sinai dr. Anyone know what this is!??? Sorry typing bad, on phone. THANK YOU!

 

[Guest]

hi Kelly.. ok, i've just looked this up on Wiki because i haven't heard of this condition before... it means inflammation caused by a bacterial pus or infection.. treatment varies from antibiotics to surgery depending on the severity of it and the state of the patient.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlegmon

i really hope they can deal with this quickly and without surgery, and that he's soon better and coming home! please keep us posted.

 

[AntsMommy]

Thank you so much! I'm googling on phone too but didn't come up with that page. This may explain his high wbc count he's had a couple weeks. I hope its treatable with antibiotics too! ty sooo much.

I wonder what differentiates this from an abcess?

Id appreciate if anyone has ever had this, if you could share information.

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Kelly,

I think the difference between a phlegmon and an abscess is an abcess is a defined pocket of pus whereas a phlegmon is diffuse, that is it has no boundaries and so causes inflammation over a wider area of tissue. It depends on the severity of the presentation as to whether IV antibiotics alone will settle it or if surgery is required to clean the area out.

Thinking of you, :hug:
Dusty

 

[Guest]

you're welcome!

i *think* the difference between this and an abcess is that abcesses have the pus contained inside them, but this phlegmon condition seems to be a spreading area of pus causing inflammation... don't quote me on that, but i had a pelvic abcess which thank goodness remained contained until they removed it, as i was told afterwards it was full of pus... kind of like a bubble filled with liquid i guess.

 

[Astra]

I've never heard of this, now I'm wondering if this is what I had when I was in hospital.
Gastro just called it a bacterial infection caused by inflammation. (I will ask him when I see him)
If it is what I had, then high doses of Metronidazole, then Prednisolone healed me without surgery.
Hope he's ok, take care Kelly
xxx

 

[AntsMommy]

Thank you again everyone. Dusty an dingbat (sorry I don't know your name! I feel bad calling you that haha) you two are both correct. We were transferred to mt sinai, will see how to proceed from here. Ty all!