Foot issue

[campbellsoup]

My son has this big blister-like bump on the bottom of his foot. I think it is a plantar wart. I have started covering it with duct tape. I am getting banana peel too.

I am comfortable if this is what it is. It is definitely in the prime location. It is smooth (not rough like usual) and it really protrudes like a blister - a little smaller than a quarter on the sole of his foot. He is hopping around the house on one foot.

So -- anyone have any ideas?? Is there anything else it could be?? It is a wart right?? Should I go to the doc?? I hate going in for silly reasons. I will feel stupid if she says it is a wart. Anyone?? What do you think??

[Otto]

Originally Posted by campbellsoup

I am comfortable if this is what it is.... He is hopping around the house on one foot.

It doesn't exactly sound like he's as comfortable with it as you are. I'd put away the duct tape and banana peels and go to the doctor.

[campbellsoup]

Point well taken.

I like to take care of things myself when I can.... this may be out of my realm.

I really am not trying to torture him. All I have read say that plantar warts are painful and if you opt for something faster aka freezing in a doc's office -- very painful and sometimes requires multiple visits. If I thought I could go into the doc's and have them zap it off..... trust me, we'd be there. All of my research says that, as funny as it seems, duct tape/banana peel works as good and possibly faster than OTC wart acid. "Smart medicine for a healthier child" recommends banana peel as the thing to go with!

I guess my only thought is -- what if it is not what I am almost positive it is. It might be worth a proper diagnosis. Then we can continue taping banana peel to his foot.

[Otto]

Originally Posted by campbellsoup

All of my research says that, as funny as it seems, duct tape/banana peel works as good and possibly faster than OTC wart acid.

I've never had a whit of luck with either duct tape or OTC preparations, but that's just me. It could also be a nucleated plantar keratosis (extremely painful, trust me), etc., and if it's not a wart, one might want to know that before waiting a couple of weeks to see whether a folk remedy works. Not that I would want a quarter-sized region on my foot frozen, either.

[campbellsoup]

Well.... I guess I will take him in on Monday. So we know for sure what we are dealing with. Thank you for your help, Otto.

[beanma]

How long has he had it? Is there any discoloration? Sometimes you can get a bad bruise on your foot (I've heard them called "stone bruises") from stepping on something. They're very painful, too. Bee sting? Spider bite? Maybe some kind of abcess? Or maybe plantar warts.

[CarrieMF]

it really protrudes like a blister

plantar warts are flat they do not protrude like a normal wart.

I'd definitly take him in, if you have an urgent care or any walk in clinics today to it today since he won't walk on it.

It sounds like he may have gotten something in his foot & his body is trying to expell it.

[campbellsoup]

It looks like a blister because it is one! Gosh I feel like an idiot! I was cleaning and bandaging the area.... and it was bigger. I thought... this is a blister.

So I pierced it with a sterilized needle and drained a lot of clear fluid. It has partially filled twice more since I first drained it. (total of about 5 hours... maybe 6) I have been covering it and applying mycatracin. If it continues to fill, should I be concerned? Would you still vote for a trip to the doctor's?

[Violet2]

If the fluid is clear and there's no fever or sign of illness, I would touch base with your ped either by phone now or on Monday.

If there's pus or red inflammation I would take him to urgent care.

V

[CarrieMF]

If it's clear I'd wait & see what it looks like on Monday.

In the meantime I'd check again & make sure there isn't anything like a sliver in there. I'd also check shoes. A blister that size doesn't show up for no reason.

[campbellsoup]

"A blister that size doesn't show up for no reason."

Exactly my thought. I need to figure that out so this doesn't become a recurring problem.

He has been barefoot a lot lately.... he had serious athlete's foot fungus problems and we were encouraging him to air 'em out. Fungus-wise, he is doing excellent but now we have this problem... poor kid. Haven't been able to see a sliver but it is hard to tell... the blister cover is opaque and pretty thick like a callus. That is why I had such a time identifying at first.... until it really puffed up and became evident.

No new shoes... but maybe that is the problem. They are not too old. He wears them out before they can get too many miles on them. We are learning that we may have to spend a bit more on shoes. His feet are wider, like my husband's, so when we get his proper length the shoes don't fit because he can't get his feet into them. We have to get 2-3 sizes bigger in "normal" shoes so he can get them on. We realized the problem about a year ago. Thank goodness for New Balance.... he currently is wearing a pair of their sneakers.... they fit well. His dress shoes are old but he doesn't wear them much. Still, we are ordering a pair of Rockports this week (another shoe that is available in wider sizes.)

[CarrieMF]

We have to get 2-3 sizes bigger in "normal" shoes so he can get them on.

This could be part of it. His feet will be rubbing front-back.

Was the fungus anywhere near the blister?

[campbellsoup]

Fungus was on his last 3 toes -- on, inbetween, under. Nasty stuff before we got it under control with constant washing, anti fungal cream (then we switched to spray because it was easier to apply) and vigilance about removing wet socks. He loves to play outside any weather. He would spend at least an hour playing football outside in the rain.... feet stuffed in wet socks and shoes... that was when we started suggesting going out barefoot. In hindsight, maybe we should have made him wear his rain boots.... he would have hated it, especially during the summer months but.... you gotta protect those feet-- you only have one pair!!

So.... fungus to blister proximity was pretty close but the fungus has been gone for... gosh, over 6 weeks now. And his sneakers do fit properly.... he wears them mostly. Church shoes don't fit right.... working on getting him a new pair.... he only wears those on Sundays, though....2% of the time. Now that I think about it, he wears his crocks mostly....easy on & off. Those are not breathable and probably don't fit the best.... at least they don't get wet and stay wet for hours.

We need to get the kid waterproof hiking boots or something. Those would fit his activity level and keep his feet dry. He has one pair of smart wool socks....maybe I should replace all his cotton socks with these. Thanks for letting me think these things out... it is nice to have feedback.

[plantnerd]

I have moccasin-type athelete's foot and this is a major symptom- blisters on the soles of the feet. For me it has been a chronic problem, over 10 years. Our next step is systemic fungicides, although I really don't want to do that to my liver. Good luck mama, it's a tough one to cure!

[campbellsoup]

I know very little about athlete's foot and less about specific types.
Plantnerd, I will look up moccasin-type AF so I can learn more about what is possibly going on. Is there anything more you can tell me? I had no idea the fungus and blisters could be related.

[plantnerd]

Originally Posted by campbellsoup

I know very little about athlete's foot and less about specific types.
Plantnerd, I will look up moccasin-type AF so I can learn more about what is possibly going on. Is there anything more you can tell me? I had no idea the fungus and blisters could be related.

Most athelete's foot is between the toes, and is fairly easy to get rid of. Moccasin type affects the bottom and sides of the feet as well as the toes, and often the nails (hence "moccasin") The blisters are caused by the fungal infection, since on the boittoms of the feet the skin is rather thick. Cracking, peeling, bad nails, rashy itchy patches are also symptoms. If he scratches a lot and scratches somewhere else he can get a ringworm type patch on other body parts- in fact I gave it to my little son when he was a few months old this way, in his case it was easy to clear up on his soft. thin skin. Moccasin type is extremely hard/impossible to get rid of b/c of the thick skin of the feet repels creams. My derm reccomended the systemic fungicide therapy, but as I said, my liver is kind of important to me and I drink, so strike one.

Basically, it sucks. Creams will tone it down for a little while, but not get rid of it. Don't let him hang out in the bathtub long, I find that makes my fungus grow like crazy. You're on the right path with keeping him barefoot. Nice dry feet help, as does gold bond foot powder.