reassure me about a splinter

[quietserena]

DD1 who is 4 has a splinter in her heel. It has probably been there since yesterday but no one noticed until it started to hurt her to walk. Typical splinter, nothing to tweeze and it is red and there seems to be a little pocket of pus around it. I intend to put a drop of honey on it tonight, and cover with a bandaid.

Reassure me! If this was me, I'd just let it be, but i really hate to see my kid hurting and it's making me consider things like urgent care.

[ameliabedelia]

I'm sorry. That is the worst. If it were me (and my child let me) I would probably try to get it out with a sterilized tweezers or needle (dip in rubbing alcohol). Once, I got it out, I would put tea tree oil or garlic oil (anti-microbial) on it along with an antibiotic cream, and then watch it closely. The pus would have me pretty worried, so I would use something stronger than honey...at least tea tree oil or garlic oil. Although, I know honey does have microbial properties as well..however I believe garlic is a more potent anti-microbial agent than honey.

I have also had great luck putting raw onion directly on a wound. The onion is anti-microbial and would help prevent infection and kill any infection. (don't put raw garlic directly on, it will burn).

Good luck. If it doesn't improve, I would take him to a doctor.

[quietserena]

Oh goodness, we tried to dig it out. She cried so hard she threw up, poor kid. It's too late to put anything else on, she's already asleep with a bandaid stuck on there (and boy, did it stick good!) We'll see tomorrow. Given she is sleeping, I figure it isn't hurting bad enough to warrant so much worry.

Interestingly enough, she felt a lot better once I put the bandaid on there. We almost never use those, usually just wash the wounds out really well and let them heal in open air so bandaids are somewhat of a novelty.

[quietserena]

good news, no pain today and the splinter is gone. hooray for bath and honey bandaids!

(don't eat them though, ick)