Once this happens a visit to the doctor is required to drain the pus so that the infected area can heal and also to finally remove the splinter from the foot. The doctor may prescribe a course of oral antibiotics to eradicate the infection. The bottom line is that splinters should be removed from the foot ASAP.
The area should be washed with soap and water before and after removal and a normal non-prescription antibiotic cream applied, even if the break in the skin is minute. In most cases this is all that is required. A minute splinter may not cause any noticeable pain but the area where it punctured the skin will usually show some redness and be tender to the touch. If the splinter is in the bottom of the foot, the wound will normally be painful when weight is placed on it.
There are various types of splinter that can enter the body. While wooden splinter are the most common, they can also be:. Do not ignore a splinter in the foot or any other part of the body. They can usually be easily removed. But if they are allowed to remain in the skin the simple problem can get very complicated.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. If the splinter has entered the skin fairly horizontally and part of it is sticking out, a pair of tweezers and a needle wiped down with rubbing alcohol can be helpful in getting it out. In a situation where the entire splinter is underneath the skin, a sterilized needle may be the best tool.
Mudd cautions, because that can put pressure on the splinter and cause it to break into fragments. Prevent infection. If you are successful in removing the splinter, wash the affected area with soap, put some antibiotic ointment or Vaseline over it, and cover it with a bandage. The CDC recommends that children receive their childhood tetanus series including the DTaP immunizations at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years old, in addition to a Tdap immunization at 11 to 12 years old.
A tetanus booster is required every 10 years after this to help boost waning immunity. Sorry to hear about your splinter. Most splinters come out on their own in a week or two, so I want you to keep that in mind as I give you some more information.
Before you attempt or even try to attempt to remove a splinter you must first take a couple things into account. First is the location of the splinter. This is common sense, but splinters aka foreign bodies that are in sensitive locations like the eyes should definitely be left for physicians to manage. In addition to location, the actual material of the foreign body wood, glass, etc may affect whether, or how you attempt to remove it.
Lastly is size and how deep it penetrated the skin. Large splinters that are easily grasped with tweezers can be removed quickly without problem. If it is large and not easily removed, then you should see a physician.
Seek medical care if: The site of a splinter appears to be infected ie, it is increasingly painful or red, swollen, there is discharge, there is associated fever or swollen lymph nodes, or there is red streaking from the affected area toward the heart.
Tetanus immunization is not up to date. When You Should Go to the ER for a Splinter You definitely should seek immediate care if you notice any signs of infection, like yellow or white discharge from the affected area, or red, hardened skin. Home Care Advice for Minor Slivers. Tiny, Pain-Free Slivers: If superficial slivers are numerous, tiny, and pain free, they can be left in. Eventually they will work their way out with normal shedding of the skin, or the body will reject them by forming a little pimple that will drain on its own.
Wash the wound and surrounding area with soap and warm water.
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