SHAVING her bikini line almost cost a mum ‘her life’ – after she developed three deadly infections as well as a pus-filled abscess in her groin.
Crystal Worel shaved with a razor in the shower before slipping into a swimsuit and heading on a family day trip to Kalama in Washington, US, on August 10.
The mum-of-two enjoyed a cooling dip in the Columbia River before heading home.
When she noticed some redness in her bikini line, she assumed she was suffering from razor burn.
Days later Crystal noticed tiny blisters bubbling up around the hair follicles she’d shaved, her temperature shot up and she started vomiting.
Crystal went to hospital and was told she was suffering from the bacterial infections cellulitis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Morganella morganii – all caused by shaving and then going into the river.
Antibiotics alone weren’t enough to tackle the infections, with the 36-year-old requiring surgery to scoop out the infected tissue from a softball-sized abscess that ballooned in her groin and left her walking bow-legged.
Now healing at home, Crystal is urging people to leave at least 48 hours between shaving and entering bodies of water – including swimming pools – to avoid the same fate.
Crystal, from Kelso, Washington State, US, said: “It was one of those days where I wanted to go out to the river and just sit in the water and relax.
“I shaved my bikini line and relative area in the shower that morning. I was going to wear a bathing suit and no shorts and you don’t want that poking through.
“It was one of the better days I’ve had this summer and then it just turned into a nightmare.”
Crystal returned home from the seven-hour trip to the river with her 36-year-old asphalt driver husband Shane Worel and their son, and noticed redness in that area, assuming it was razor rash.
But over the next few days Crystal noticed blisters in her bikini line and pubic area and began to feel unwell.
She went to St. John’s Medical Center in Longview, Washington State.
During her first visit on August 18, she was hooked up to an antibiotic IV drip and given oral antibiotics to help tackle the cellulitis.
She returned two days later on August 20 when a softball-sized abscess ballooned on the right side of her groin and she became feverish.
Kennedy NewsCrystal assumed the redness around her bikini line was razor burn[/caption] Kennedy NewsBut she was soon rushed to hospital, where she was diagnosed with three different bacterial infections[/caption]Crystal said: “I felt 100 per cent fine during the day.
“That evening it was irritated, but the day after that it was more of a rash and was burning. As the days went on it became infected.
“There were little blisters around the hair follicles. Then it [the area] started to swell, and it became uncomfortable.
“I woke up about midnight on Sunday night. I was really nauseous and every bone in my body hurt, it felt like I had the worst flu of my life.
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a skin infection that’s treated with antibiotics. It can be serious if it’s not treated quickly.
Cellulitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection.
The bacteria can infect the deeper layers of your skin if it’s broken, for example, because of an insect bite or cut, or if it’s cracked and dry.
Sometimes the break in the skin is too small to notice.
You cannot catch cellulitis from another person, as it affects the deeper layers of the skin.
Cellulitis makes your skin painful, hot and swollen. The area usually looks red, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin. Your skin may also be blistered.
You may also feel unwell and have flu-like symptoms, with swollen, painful glands.
You can get cellulitis on any part of your body but it’s more common on your lower limbs.
“The doctor said I had cellulitis. They did a round of IV antibiotics and then sent me home with an antibiotic prescription.
“Wednesday rolled around and it looked like there was a large softball under my skin.
“At this point I couldn’t really walk normally, I was bow-legged. I felt like I was going to pass out, I was very feverish.
“I had cellulitis, MRSA and Morganella morganii. I genuinely thought it was it and that I was going to die, I was really scared.
“I had surgery to cut open the abscess and drain it. My husband is still packing and unpacking the wound at home.”
Could happen to anyone
Now recovering at home, Crystal is sharing her ordeal to ensure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Crystal said: “The crazy part is I just did something so simple, what the majority of women would do without even thinking about it, and it almost cost me my life.
“I’ve been swimming in that river my whole life and never had an issue like this before, from the sounds of it, it could happen anywhere.
“People don’t hear of it. I don’t know how many women shave and go into water.
“It could have been a hot tub, a swimming pool, it could have been on vacation and in the ocean.
Kennedy NewsCrystal in hospital being treated for the infections[/caption]“[The doctor] said from the combination of shaving and going swimming, the bacteria got in through the micro tears and it could happen to anybody.
“He said at least wait 24 to 48 hours [after shaving and before getting into water], nobody teaches you that.
“They tell you that at salons after waxing but I don’t know anybody that’s been told that after shaving. You don’t even think about it.
“I’m scared to ever do that again, I don’t even want to go get my eyebrows waxed.”
Cowlitz County Health & Human Services (CCHHS) said they have not received any reports of these infections in the water.
What is MRSA?
MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that usually lives harmlessly on the skin.
But when it gets inside the body, it can cause a serious infection that needs immediate treatment.
It has become resistant to some commonly used antibiotics and can be difficult to clear, so it is sometimes referred to as a “superbug”.
In some cases, MRSA causes life-threatening complications, such as sepsis and pneumonia.
If you get an MRSA infection under your skin, you may notice that it:
Is painful and swollen Feels warm Leaks pus or liquid Looks redIf it has spread to your blood, lungs or another part of your body, symptoms may include:
High temperature Difficulty breathing Chills Dizziness ConfusionTreatment usually involves antibiotics for several weeks.
People staying in hospitals or care homes are at increased risk of MRSA.
Source: NHS
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