Can my son go to school tomorrow?

[AngelOfMusic4]

My 7 YO DS has been off school for 3 days with a fever and a cough. Today he said that his thumb was hurting and when he showed me it was red and very sore so I took him to the pharmacist who said that it was whitlow, gave me some ointment to put on it and cream which has helped but definitely hasn't solved it yet.

I've read online (I had never heard of whitlow) that it's very contagious but it doesn't specify what stage of whitlow you are contagious so it's causing me a lot of confusion about it.

Does anyone know if he can go to school with whitlow or do I keep him off for a certain amount of time while it scabs?

Thank you!

Just put a plaster on it and send him in.

My sister used to get these from pulling off hang nails. Google bread poultice- they worked a treat on my sister. Never knew that Whitlows were contagious, thought there were just an infection around the nail.

To my knowledge a whitlow is unless its an Herpetic Whitlow (which i doubt highly) are NOT contagious.

They are not contagious. He'll be fine to go to work

School even

Thank you for your replies.

I have no idea which type of whitlow it is so I've attached a picture of it.

I've put a plaster on it with some antibacterial cream for tonight so hopefully it improves.

This why Pharmacists are Pharmacists, and not Doctors.
Soak it in TCP and put a plaster on.

I’ve had them and never knew there was a name for them... I usually apply pressure till they pop That’s obviously not the advice I’d give any patients though!!