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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / What is causing itchy pustules on my foot since a trip to Costa Rica?
« on: 13/07/2004 06:30:47 »
Hello all,
I'm writing today because I have a situation that appears to be getting out of control. First, some background on the issue.
Four years ago I traveled to Costa Rica for a six week period, eleven days of which were spent deep in the rain forest at a bilogical research station. On more than one occasion I may have placed one or both of my bare feet on the ground. My suspicion is that while I was there in Costa Rica I picked up a parasite on my foot. This is purely conjecture because one thing is certain, which is that I was not aware of any physical changes at the time.
A month or two after arriving home from my photographic safari I noticed that I had a single small pimple on the bottom of my left foot. This pimple had a light colored head, and it was annoyingly itchy on the tissue immediately surrounding the eruption. I don't recall whether the pimple was vented or not.
Several months later I noticed the return of the pimple, and it may have been around this time that I started to vent them when they occured.
This cycle of a single pimple, with symptoms lasting aproximately one to two weeks, and then nothing happening for one to two months until the next cycle, continued for roughly three years.
During the past twelve months (and especially the past four months) the frequency and number of pimples has sky rocketed. I see roughly one new pimple on my left foot every day now. I have never found any of these pimples outside of the bottom or sides of my left foot, at least not until today!
Today I found what looks like a similar pimple on my right middle finger. Needless to say, I have become a little concerned about my condition.
I am getting a referal to a specialist through my doctor, however I am told that the waiting list is roughly six months to get in (I live with the Canadian health care system).
If there is anyone out there with the appropriate knowledge and experience in tropical parasites, I would greatly appreciate a helping hand. My main goal is to locate the resources that will allow me to educate myself. Just a friendly nudge in the right direction, if you know what I mean.
Best Regards,
Bruce
I'm writing today because I have a situation that appears to be getting out of control. First, some background on the issue.
Four years ago I traveled to Costa Rica for a six week period, eleven days of which were spent deep in the rain forest at a bilogical research station. On more than one occasion I may have placed one or both of my bare feet on the ground. My suspicion is that while I was there in Costa Rica I picked up a parasite on my foot. This is purely conjecture because one thing is certain, which is that I was not aware of any physical changes at the time.
A month or two after arriving home from my photographic safari I noticed that I had a single small pimple on the bottom of my left foot. This pimple had a light colored head, and it was annoyingly itchy on the tissue immediately surrounding the eruption. I don't recall whether the pimple was vented or not.
Several months later I noticed the return of the pimple, and it may have been around this time that I started to vent them when they occured.
This cycle of a single pimple, with symptoms lasting aproximately one to two weeks, and then nothing happening for one to two months until the next cycle, continued for roughly three years.
During the past twelve months (and especially the past four months) the frequency and number of pimples has sky rocketed. I see roughly one new pimple on my left foot every day now. I have never found any of these pimples outside of the bottom or sides of my left foot, at least not until today!
Today I found what looks like a similar pimple on my right middle finger. Needless to say, I have become a little concerned about my condition.
I am getting a referal to a specialist through my doctor, however I am told that the waiting list is roughly six months to get in (I live with the Canadian health care system).
If there is anyone out there with the appropriate knowledge and experience in tropical parasites, I would greatly appreciate a helping hand. My main goal is to locate the resources that will allow me to educate myself. Just a friendly nudge in the right direction, if you know what I mean.
Best Regards,
Bruce