Hello doctor,My brother has swelling on his left foot. He has a boil on his left inner leg 4 inches above his left ankle inner bone. The doctor he visited gave him medicines for his boil and said the boil will come out in some days. The swelling in his foot has increased and so he visited the same doctor the next day and was advised to see an orthopedic. The orthopedic doctor did not diagnose it but referred him to a general doctor who again did not diagnose it but said there is pus buildup inside the foot and it needs surgery. My father who accompanied my brother asked the doctor whether it will subside with medicines or if surgery is needed. The doctor simply said you can use the medicine or you can do the surgery.I am out of the country and feel the doctor may have not specified the situation correctly to my father and also may have not clearly explained why he suggested the surgery. I needed a second opinion, as I want my brother to receive proper treatment and identify if it is a serious condition and I need to know the best solution. I also want to know why the doctor mentioned surgery for a pus buildup and what is the diagnosis of the foot condition. I can provide pictures of my brother\s foot if needed.
Hello, Welcome to Chat Doctor forum. He is having diabetes? If yes, what is the sugar level? If yes, first you have to control the sugar level. He is having a deep infected ulcer with cellulitis. What medications he is on? Since it is a deep and swelling extended up to the foot better open the wound and  ChatDoctor.  Meantime, start tablet Pan 40 (Pantoprazole) one-two times daily before food, tablet Ciprofloxacin 500 mg two times daily, tablet Combiflam (Ibuprofen) one tablet twice daily, and tablet Chymorol forte one tablet thrice times daily for five days after food, and wound 