An abscess on a child’s finger near the nail: how to treat and what to do if the wound festers?

Causes of ingrown toenails in children

• Insufficient care - it is necessary to regularly trim the plate evenly, without rounding.
• Lack of vitamins in the diet - deformations of the nail occur, it injures soft tissues.
• The appearance of fungus means the surface becomes uneven, increasing the risk of developing pathology.
• Flat feet - the uniform distribution of the load on the foot is disrupted.
• Rickets - too thin and brittle nails.
• Incorrectly selected shoes are narrow, tight, which compress the foot and lead to ingrown hairs.
• Genetic predisposition - if close relatives have a tendency to ingrown nails, you need to carefully monitor your baby’s nails.
• Trauma - if a child hits or injures a finger, pathology may occur.

Symptoms of the disease

The manifestation of onychocryptosis in children is difficult to detect when the child cannot explain what is bothering him. Mom may notice swelling and redness of the nail fold. If pus is released, you should consult a doctor to treat and treat the affected area. Independent actions can aggravate the problem and lead to the need to remove a child’s ingrown toenail.

Main symptoms:

• pain that gradually increases;
• redness and swelling, if infection occurs, suppuration occurs;
• overgrowth of the affected area with soft tissues;
• increased body temperature as a consequence of the inflammatory process.

Possible causes of an abscess

1. A purulent abscess on the finger often occurs due to the habit of biting nails. A child’s teeth damage the skin, allowing pathogenic bacteria to enter the body.
2. The finger is festering due to hangnails. Since children's skin is very delicate, even a small defect in the skin near the nail allows dirt to penetrate the body.
3. The inflamed area breaks out due to the pliability of the nail plate in infants. If you trim your nails incorrectly or carelessly, you can deform the nail, which can lead to it growing into the skin. This, in turn, leads to tissue inflammation.

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Consequences of the problem

It is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner so as not to aggravate the situation and not lead to complications. Ingrown toenails come with a risk of infection in the affected area. As a result, suppuration may occur.

In the absence of proper therapy, ingrowth can lead to abscess, osteomyelitis and sepsis. In children, the infection spreads quickly. This is especially dangerous for weakened children with diabetes. Source: I.P. Zhurilo, V.K. Litovka, G.A. Sopov, K.V. Latyshov, I.N. Inozemtsev The problem of ingrown toenails in children // Child's Health, 2012, No. 2(37), pp. 139-141

Doctors take the problem of ingrown toenails seriously and recommend promptly starting therapy and carrying out a set of measures.

Features of purulent wounds in children

Purulent wounds. What it is?

A purulent wound is characterized by the development of an infectious process or, more simply, the formation of pus, swelling and necrosis of tissue, and the proliferation of harmful microbes. The peculiarity of a purulent wound is that, unlike other types of wounds, it takes longer and is more difficult to heal. It's no secret that children are more active and inquisitive than adults. They spend a lot of time playing outside, often fall and get hurt, so children have a higher risk of getting hurt.

Parents should remember that absolutely any wound, regardless of its size, can be infected with bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp. After all, a child, if the wound does not hurt, can calmly continue playing in the ground or in the sand. And this is dangerous due to infection and subsequent suppuration!

Treatment of a purulent wound is selected depending on the phase of the wound process.

PERIODS AND PHASES OF HEALING OF PURULENT WOUNDS

Parents' attentive attitude to the child's health, up to a daily examination after a walk or a day spent in kindergarten, will help prevent a large number of problems. A small scrape or pimple left untreated from a knee injury caused by falling off a bicycle can develop into a more serious and dangerous problem.

Treatment of pathology

What to do if a child has an ingrown toenail and becomes inflamed? It is necessary, without delay, to consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and prescribe adequate treatment.

Parents often do not correctly assess the severity of the problem. Suppuration may not be noticeable. If you take a hot bath or warming procedures, it will only harm your health.

You cannot begin treatment for an ingrown toenail if suppuration is visible on the child’s foot, without consulting a surgeon. Make an appointment with a specialist so that your baby recovers quickly without the risk of complications.

At the first manifestations

The problem doesn't come out of the blue. Already at the first complaint of pain from a child, you need to carefully examine the leg. If you notice that the edge of the nail rests on the roller, which has turned red or white, you need to prepare a warm bath with chamomile or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then wipe the area with alcohol. Remove the part of the plate that rests on the soft tissue. Monitor your finger closely until the inflammation goes away. Source: A.B. Baburin, V.I. Loginov, V.V. Parshikov Method of complex treatment of ingrown nails // Medical almanac, 2012, No. 5(24), pp. 228-230

Surgical method

When the problem is serious, accompanied by suppuration and inflammation, they resort to surgery. Doctors remove the edges of a child's ingrown toenail.

Features of the procedure:

• a piece of skin is taken from the pad to stitch the wound, the rollers are moved away from the edges and the nail plate grows straight, in the right direction;
• For children the intervention is performed under general anesthesia, for older children under local anesthesia;
• After the procedure, you must come back for dressing changes twice, follow the care recommendations and wear open-toed shoes;
• the rehabilitation period lasts about a week, complete healing requires 20 days;
• To prevent recurrence of the problem, it is recommended to take baths to steam the finger and carefully move away the skin ridges, giving the nail a rounded shape.

Medication method

The measures are aimed at relieving inflammation and treating without surgery. Prescribed agents for oral and external use. Tamponade is used - placing a material soaked in medicine between the nail and the roller. Ointments effectively relieve inflammation and pain, and draw out pus. If ointments alone are not enough, medications are prescribed for oral administration. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30843080 Gera SK, PG Zaini DKH, Wang S, Abdul Rahaman SHB, Chia RF, Lim KBL Ingrowing toenails in children and adolescents: is nail avulsion superior to Nonoperative treatment? // Singapore Med J. 2022 Feb;60(2):94-96. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2018106

Disease prevention

To avoid risk, you should follow a number of recommendations:

• be careful when choosing shoes - they should be comfortable, with a round toe, of the appropriate size;
• socks and tights must be of high quality, fit tightly to the foot, and not move down;
• trim your nails correctly with manicure scissors or clippers - so that the edges are smooth and not rounded (do not cut off the corners, but file them).

If you suspect a problem, make an appointment with a specialist at our clinic in St. Petersburg. At the appointment, the doctor will examine the leg, advise how to treat the problem, prescribe medications or recommend surgery.

Sources:

1. I.P. Zhurilo, V.K. Litovka, G.A. Sopov, K.V. Latyshov, I.N. Inozemtsev. The problem of ingrown toenails in children // Child's Health, 2012, No. 2(37), pp. 139-141.
2. A.B. Baburin, V.I. Loginov, V.V. Parshikov. Method for complex treatment of ingrown toenails // Medical almanac, 2012, No. 5(24), pp. 228-230.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30843080

Gera SK, PG Zaini DKH, Wang S, Abdul Rahaman SHB, Chia RF, Lim KBL. Ingrowing toenails in children and adolescents: is nail avulsion superior to nonoperative treatment? // Singapore Med J. 2019 Feb;60(2):94-96. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2018106.

Grebenyuk Mikhail Viktorovich Clinic

Author of the article

Grebenyuk Mikhail Viktorovich

Specialty: surgeon

Experience: 19 years

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Don't self-medicate! At the first signs of illness, you should consult a doctor.

How to treat and how to treat wounds*

* Wound - abrasion, burn, cut, with the addition of a bacterial infection

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