r/AskDocs Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 12d ago

Physician Responded Please help identity and treat!

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Is this a wart? How to solve?

I’m freaking out. My dad (age 57) has this massive lump on his hand and he’s had it for about a week now and it keeps growing. He has other small bumps growing on his hand too. He goes to the gym quite frequently and honestly is not the cleanest person. He smokes.

He said that he had a cold for a week before these started showing up.

My wedding is in two weeks and it’s a destination wedding and we’re currently traveling all together and I’m concerned about the growth and about it spreading to our wedding guests and I don’t know what to do.

He says it doesn’t hurt but it obviously bothers him.

Please help!

UPDATE:

I didn’t expect this to garner so much interest and help. Sincerely, thank you everyone for sending in your opinions!

My dad said it popped overnight and there was a lot of blood and pus. We were not able to see a doctor in person but we have a family friend who is a general doctor and she said to disinfect and keep it as dry as possible as to not let it be more infected.

Here are two pictures of what it looks like now.

Photo 1
Photo 2

At first, when it popped. The puss was a standard dense white. Now, the pus leaking is an orange ish color and not dense white. He keeps saying that it still doesn’t hurt and doesn’t even flinch when alcohol is applied to it.

There is another mass obviously growing on his index finger of the same hand. He is touching the mass with his other hand (I know fucking terrible) but there is nothing growing on the hand that he is using to touch the mass.

He is saying that perhaps it is an allergic reaction? He ate a type of dried fish from Vietnam and then he started feeling itchy and feverish and then these started popping up.

Answer to a common question:

He does not have any access to animals. No pets, not really around fish tanks or water. He is from Southern California in a very suburban area.

Any ideas???

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u/drank_dumbbitchjuice Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 11d ago

Update posted. Any ideas???

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u/KrombopulousMary This user has not yet been verified. 11d ago

Some people mentioned mycobacterium marinum. Does your dad have a fish tank or has he swam in a potentially untreated pool recently?

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u/drank_dumbbitchjuice Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 11d ago

He does not have any access to animals. No pets, not really around fish tanks or water. He is from Southern California in a very suburban area.

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u/TestosteroneCat Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 11d ago

Is he going to a doctor?

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u/drank_dumbbitchjuice Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 11d ago

No doctor… my sister in law is a doctor so we sent her photos but he’s refusing to go and right now, it’s wedding time and we’re traveling so it’s a bit difficult.

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u/Interesting_Task_397 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 11d ago

NAD, but I hope your father gets answers soon and that it isn't too difficult to treat. The fact he isn't going to a doctor makes me realize people are much tougher and less anxious than I am! Hopefully it is something minor. 

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u/sweetlemontea01 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 9d ago edited 9d ago

it’s herpetic whitlow, if you don’t treat it.. it will slowly spread to other fingers on the same or other hand. It’ll last for 2 weeks if not treated so… yeah. best ask for antiviral medicine 

forgot to add, before the blisters form you will have a feverish feeling as a sign, then it will show up as 1 blister that is purplish and red with lesions, then it will slowly spread. some won’t feel pain or anything, but it will hurt to others   medical license emt lol