To take my son to GP? Splinters

[Fabiagracefawndorn]

My 3 y.o. son had unfortunate landing on a fence today resulting in dozens of tiny splinters stuck in his palm, I tried vinegar but I can't get them out. I have counted more than 30, some are barely visible to naked eye, but still deep though

I've had success with bread poultice. Wet some bread, and fasten it in place overnight with a plaster. I think what happens is that the bread swells because of the moisture, and the pressure on the skin pops the splinter out.

If it's just one splinter and it's me, I usually wait 24 hours, by which time there's a nice infection setting in, and I can gently squeeze, and the splinter pops out with the pus. According to my GP the infection is "not a necessary part of the process" and the splinter will generally work its way out of its own accord

Agree with magnesium sulphate paste.

You could use a calpol syringe to get some of the bigger ones out. It's painless.

Thank you so much for your time and replies.

I'll try the syringe as well after the magnesium paste.

How is he doing @Fabiagracefawndorn

They look pretty near the surface, could you not dig them out with a pin?

Nurse here. Mag sulph or hydrocolloid dressings (ask the chemist).

Well, an update. He's been wearing the magnesium sulfate paste for almost three days now. We have finished hot bath now, but unfortunately, no luck. I have sucked out the bigger one and that's it. Can't get out the rest. All those splinters are completely under the skin... very superficial, but still under the skin..

Sucked out with the Calpol syringe I mean

The one thing I'm thinking about is sterile needle to dig them out. But I'm not sure if this is a sane idea.

Hmmm. I wonder would a bit of local anesthetic cream help prior to attempted “dig out”? Even superficial ones can require quite a big of digging I have found

Quite a bit, that should say.

I’d use a sterile sewing needle on the big ones, that what I’ve done with my children.

The little ones, I’d just leave to come out themselves, just giving him long warm soaks in the bath every evening and maybe putting some germolene on.

Eventually they’ll just work their way to the surface. If they’re not bothering him I’d just keep on with the mag sulphate, several times a day, then cover it.

I am a practice nurse and WOULD NOT DIG THESE OUT!!!

They are best left alone and will extrude on their own. Unless they get infected, leave them alone. If little pustules develop, the splinter will pop out with the pus. Digging around will cause pain and distress and is a big risk factor for causing infection and possible scarring

I'm an ENP & I echo what @takemetomars said above

For these to be dug out the child will most likely need to be sedated.

Hydrocolloid dressings! They work like a charm. Leave them on for 24 hours and then they should pull the splinters to the surface so you can get them out.

Pharmacist first

Thinking out loud here but what about duct tape on the hand and then "waxing" the little buggers out?

Don't know if this will help, as is purely anecdotal, but as a kid, I had similar, and cos my mum was a bit odd I did nothing about it except put TCP on it. All the splinters came out a few months later (having 'healed over'), my body sort of capsulised them then rejected them. I'd watch and wait, and if his hand stays normal (not red or swollen or painful), I'd be inclined to leave it be and let his body sort it.

I wouldn't be able to leave those alone closet sporner here

I'd have to try and get the bigger ones out just by pulling up one layer of skin at a time with a pin like when you used to put needles under your skin in school to gross out the teachers. Or was that just my class?

But realistically magnesium paste is a better plan of action.

You must have very docile 3 year olds - none of mine would have sat and let me dig around in their hands at 3 nor would I have wanted to! Op didn't you get told to go back if the paste didn't work?

If they aren’t bothering him, i’d leave them alone to come out naturally. If they’re sore i’d have a go with a sterile needle and tweezers, numb the area with some ice in a flannel. Numbing with ice worked a treat when I had some in my fingertips which were painful.

We've been told to go to our GP in case it wouldn't work.
I just have one more day before Monday morning to try something, as the nurse in A&E said it would be much more painful.

I even have no idea how they going to get those out.. maybe, as takemetomars mentioned they will wait.
I'm using only germolene now.
Also attaching a pic how it looks now..

Thank you guys once again