I am an older female, with a very large boil, where the top of the leg meets the rest of the body (where the underwear elastic would rub) on the inside of the groin area. The boil was about the size of a VERY large egg. It burst and now very foul smelling brown puss keeps oozing out. It is very very painful. What causes something like this? And I have been very sick, almost flu like symptoms. Very weak, very unsteady on my feet, terrible headaches and lots of body pain (aching). It's been hot here, but I have kept hydrated. Could this a staph infection or an infected lymph gland?

Have you seen a doctor about this yet?

Sounds like staph. See your doctor immediately.

No, it is very hard to even get out of the house.

You need to see a Dr ASAP. At the very least, you need some antibiotics. It may need draining further also. Infections in that area, left untreated, can turn into gangrene.

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Originally Posted by heavenswillow1

No, it is very hard to even get out of the house.

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We can't examine you. We can culture your wound.

If it is staph, it could be deadly if it gets into your blood stream and you become septic. If you can't get out of the house, call 911. Get this seen immediately.

You definitely need a doctor, or even the hospital. I had these (just way smaller) at one point and I consulted a dermatologist. What caused it/them is the constant rubbing of the skin added with the sweating in that area. The skin doesn't agree with it. By that stage I would say hospital immediately! The surrounding tissue could be rotting because of the humid environment in the groin. I know it's also embarrising, but trust me, after treatment, the pain and smell will go away. It might take some time though.

How is it being treated now? I will assume no clothing rubbing on it.

But you need to see the doctor.