Baby has infected toe- help!

[Partaria]

My seven week old has an infected big toe. It's swollen up pretty badly, and there's a pus pocket. I think it's an ingrown nail, though I can't imagine why- we've never cut his toenails.

I've called the doctor- waiting to hear back about what we should do.

I'm nervous they'll prescribe antibiotics. I'm open to giving them to him if thats really what he needs, but I often feel they've over prescribed. And, I'm worried about the effect of antibiotics on his very delicate 7 week old gut.

Anyone had this before with their children? Did you use antibiotics? If not, what else worked?

Anything topical I can give him for the pain? He has been screaming all day and I can't seem to calm him, poor guy.

[hildare]

not topical but you can use tylenol or motrin.. we always preferred motrin (baby kind, without dye)..

can you soak his foot in a bowl of warm epsom salts for a while and then try to put peroxide on it?  i'd try that... see if you can get the infection out.

[Partaria]

Thanks, I will give that a try. Don't know how long he'll tolerate a toe soak. He's a kicker!

I used black salve when I had an infected toe. It basically draws out the infection. But I believe one of the ingredients was tar, and I don't know if that's safe for my kiddo.

What aboutusing one of the teething gels on his toe, just for the pain relief? I know it wouldn't help the infection, but maybe it would numb the toe for a little while.

[MPsSweetie]

Abbotts finger did that when he was about 10 weeks old! It was SO swollen and shiny and red. When i saw the head on it I just squeezed it out. He cried and cried but it had been hurting him and keepong him awake. Tons of stuff came out, including a huge chunk of nail. It was weird. I peroxided it and it was gone the very next day.

[mamaofthree]

i would second the foot/toe soak. i wouldn't put peroxide on it, it can be really harsh on skin. BUT if it comes to a head try and get the puss out and maybe put on some triple antibiotic topical cream, or something like that and leave it open to air.

poor little baby. :(

[Super~Single~Mama]

I would take him to a Dr., and keep an eye on it - if it gets worse take him in.  I had an infected toe when I was in 5th grade, and we knew it was really bad when there was a red line going up my foot - if you see that, he needs to see a Dr ASAP - it indicates the infection has entered the bloodstream, which is bad.

[expat_canuck]

My DD had something similar around that age, an infection like an ingrown toenail. We soaked it several times a day in warn salty water and put triple anti-biotic cream (polysporin) and it got better in a day or so. Any longer than that and I would have brought her in to the drs

We figured it was caused by wearing sleepers that were too tight and or rubbing her toes - DD has big feet, and the sleeper was getting pulled against her toes when she was held....so pretty much all the time at that age.

Edited to add- I missed that your LO was screaming in pain and that the toe was so swollen. My DDs toe was not swollen and she didn't mind if we handled it. In your situation, I agree with everyone else who posted that it sounds like you need to seek medical attention immediately. Antibiotics are amazing life-saving medicine when properly prescribed, and 7 weeks is very young for such an infection.
Edited by expat_canuck - 7/16/11 at 5:00pm

[samstress]

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

I would take him to a Dr., and keep an eye on it - if it gets worse take him in.  I had an infected toe when I was in 5th grade, and we knew it was really bad when there was a red line going up my foot - if you see that, he needs to see a Dr ASAP - it indicates the infection has entered the bloodstream, which is bad.

wow, our dd (who's four) just had this very thing.  when we saw the red line going up the foot, we knew it was serious and brought her to the emergency room (it was a sunday and didn't want to wait).  they had to lance it to drain the pus and then decided it wasn't enough to prescribed an oral antibiotic, they had to give her two injections at once (and then she took them orally for a week).  still have no idea how it got infected.

as for your little one, no other ideas (other than what PPs have mentioned).  did you ever hear back from the doc?

[PhoenixMommaToTwo]

I second the suggestion of tylenol and motrin, especially if he's that much pain. That's a lot for a young baby to handle. My son had an infected finger around that age and we had him on abx. He was fine and the infection cleared pretty quick.

[MoonWillow]

I would be more worried about the infection turning septic than I would about giving him abx. Probiotics counteract the killing of good bacteria. 

[JesseMomme]

Originally Posted by MoonWillow 

I would be more worried about the infection turning septic than I would about giving him abx. Probiotics counteract the killing of good bacteria. 

You dont' want to find out how fast a little baby can get septic if an infection hits the bloodstream. Err on the side of caution and go get abx now.

[Panserbjorne]

Babies can be born with ingrown toenails so you wouldn't have needed to cut anything for this to happen.

With a seven week old, it's really necessary to seek care.  Do you have a pediatrician you can call?  Please have someone in real life check this as soon as possible.  I know it's the weekend but this warrants a call today.  It's never okay to allow a baby be in pain if you can do something to help.  IF you want to use alternative medicine you can talk probiotics after the fact or epsom salt soaks concurrent to the Dr. prescribed treatment, but not in lieu of for such a tiny one.  Best of luck.

[Rivka5]

Originally Posted by hildare 

not topical but you can use tylenol or motrin.. we always preferred motrin (baby kind, without dye)..

can you soak his foot in a bowl of warm epsom salts for a while and then try to put peroxide on it?  i'd try that... see if you can get the infection out.

Motrin for a seven-week-old? My doctor always said no ibuprofen before six months because it's hard on their kidneys.

I would not give medication to a seven-week-old at all without checking with a doctor first. And I would definitely take this baby to the doctor, even on the weekend, because I would worry that a local infection could turn into sepsis quickly in such a tiny baby.

When doctors overprescribe antibiotics, it's usually because parents are pushing for them. Make it clear that you don't want antibiotics unless they are completely medically necessary, and your pediatrician will be delighted to hear it.

[~Boudicca~]

I would take your babe to the ped.  You don't wait around with infections in a baby that little.

[swede]

Originally Posted by Partaria 

Thanks, I will give that a try. Don't know how long he'll tolerate a toe soak. He's a kicker!

I used black salve when I had an infected toe. It basically draws out the infection. But I believe one of the ingredients was tar, and I don't know if that's safe for my kiddo.

What aboutusing one of the teething gels on his toe, just for the pain relief? I know it wouldn't help the infection, but maybe it would numb the toe for a little while.

Please don't put the black salve on your baby - http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/eschar.html

[swede]

Originally Posted by Rivka5 

Motrin for a seven-week-old? My doctor always said no ibuprofen before six months because it's hard on their kidneys.

I would not give medication to a seven-week-old at all without checking with a doctor first. And I would definitely take this baby to the doctor, even on the weekend, because I would worry that a local infection could turn into sepsis quickly in such a tiny baby.

When doctors overprescribe antibiotics, it's usually because parents are pushing for them. Make it clear that you don't want antibiotics unless they are completely medically necessary, and your pediatrician will be delighted to hear it.

This is the best, most appropriate advice.  See the doctor - let them diagnose what is happening, and then discuss your options.  I have never been diagnosed antibiotics against my will.  Most doctors wish patients didn't want them when they're not going to work.  But when they WILL work, why not take them?
 

[Agatha_Ann]

Originally Posted by swede 

This is the best, most appropriate advice.  See the doctor - let them diagnose what is happening, and then discuss your options.  I have never been diagnosed antibiotics against my will.  Most doctors wish patients didn't want them when they're not going to work.  But when they WILL work, why not take them?
 

I agree. Antibiotics are used too much, but that doesn't mean they are never appropriate, and this is a case when they most certainly are! It is great to want to protect his gut, but when the alternatives are more dire...and a gut can be fixed?

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by ~Boudicca~ 

I would take your babe to the ped.  You don't wait around with infections in a baby that little.

I completely agree. And NO ibuprofen (Motrin) until 6 months.  But you need to get to the root of the problem.  If that means antibiotics, then give them even though I understand why you want to avoid them.  They are appropriate sometimes.

[GalateaDunkel]

I hope you've taken the baby in by now - even to the ER if that's all you can get on the weekend. Infections are what antibiotics are FOR, and you can always use probiotics if you are worried about his gut. If you wait until it starts to spread it could easily be too late in a child that small. If it gets into his bloodstream, then in such a tiny body it will spread like wildfire and you could easily have a hospitalized child on IV antibiotics. You also don't want to risk him losing the toe. Please, PLEASE go in.

[Alenushka]

You need to call your doctor now. The fact that is is so severe and baby screams in pain and there is pus is an indication of serious infection that can spread and cause sepsis. 7 week old are very vulnerable.

Yes, antibiotics are overuse in modern day America, but there cases when antibiotics are needed.  Go see a doctor who will prescribe a treatment your baby need. I would also be very careful regarding pain meds advice on the Internet. Many infants end up in ER across America because of pain meds overdose by their parents.

I hope your little one feels better soon.