My 6 yr old got a splinter stuck in the bottom of her foot yesterday morning. By the time I got home my mother in law had tried all morning to get it out unsuccessfully, and there was a small puss filled blister around it. So when I got home from work, I gave her some ibuprofen, let that kick in and an hr laterI washed her foot up real good with anti bacterial soap, disinfected all my "tools" and went at it. So I "think" I got it out but I'm not 100% sure. What happened was I used my eyebrow plucker to try and grab it, but thought I didn't get it so I switched to another tool, then went back to the pluckers and realized there was a tiny lil something resembling a splinter stuck to the tip of it.....but i'm not sure if it was the freakin splinter or not! This morning, the skin around the site looks quite a bit red and there is also a line going from side to side on her foot which I'm not sure if it's from me gripping her tight last night or what! I cringe at the though of taking her to the docs and they just go at it heartlessly ughh what should I do???
It's 1:30pm we are waiting to be seen in the e.r! Wish her luck ;) So it turns out she did not have an infection but rather it was just inflamed. The doc...and a whole crew of sonographers, did an ultrasound of her foot and I did get it out after all! He did give her a round of antibiotic just to be on the safe side though. He said the red line did look like a little bit of "streaking" but that he believed her foot was fine. Glad I went though! Thanks all for your advice.
Don't worry about the pain - the Dr. will give her some Novocaine in her foot. It's infected and is in her blood. Go to the ER ASAP!!!!
Glad you are at ER. I had this happen. Splinter one day, red line running from finger to elbow next day. Staph infection, required strong course of oral antibiotics.
The doctor told me redwood splinters are a common cause of staph infection, my splinter was from a redwood jewelry box.
If there are red lines extending from the site across her foot, GO TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY!!
This is a significant sign of a fast spreading infection & requires immediate attention.
I know people on this site tend to be more conservative & recommend going to the doctor for any medical questions, but I am urging you to go NOW. Waiting can result in hospitalization.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/s...
Hope she is OK. T.
Red lines are BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's infection, and it's spreading. Get her to the doctor's NOW!!
The line tells me that the infection could be spreading. She really needs to be seen immediately in spite of any discomfort or fear you think your daughter may endure. This is serious enough for her to be seen. Doctors aren't heartless. If they were, they wouldn't be in the line of work they're in. They're caretakers. But if you go in there with fear, your daughter will too.
Please update us ASAP -- others are right, the red line is a strong sign of potential infection that is spreading. I hope by the time you see this she has already seen a doctor a LONG time ago.
Do not cringe at the thought of doctors "going at it heartlessly" -- that is now essential. Better for her to endure some more pain today than to have an infection spread through her bloodstream. I would after this let grandma know that next time this happens she must just lightly wrap the area and call you, and your move is to the doctor's. Any splinter not easily removed with simple tweezers should be left for the doc but you know that now -- just be sure grandma now knows to leave things "in" when they happen on her watch next time.
The lines could also be an infection spreading. Did you disinfect the tweezers? Or it could be an infection from whatever was in her foot. If she was my child I would take her to the doctors. I don't think they will go at it "heartlessly" but they may very well give her an antibiotic if it looks infected. FYI... You do not want to mess around with a skin infection. If it goes to her blood she could become septic.
YOU NEED TO GET HER TO A DOCTOR.
ASAP.
It is INFECTED.
That "red line...." is an indication that the infection is spreading... in her system. Plus there is pus, there too.
She needs, oral antibiotics at this point.
Not just topical stuff from home.
Get, her to a Doctor.
Today.
My mother would disinfect a needle and "go in". She knew that it was out when either she saw that it was out or it didn't hurt anymore. How does the infection respond to alcohol or peroxide?
I don't know what to tell you to do today.
