GP for black toddler toenail?

[LegoVsFoot]

It's not bothering her and I don't know where it came from. It's her big toenail. It's only blue/black at the base and a bit around the skin (like a bruise).

Likely she just banged it or could it be something else?

Pic for reference

I’d put that down to a bang and just see if it grows out ok.

Tiny toes!!

Yes that looks like trauma that happened a couple of weeks ago.

Keep an eye on it and make sure it grows out.

Looks like a bruised nail bed. It should grow out (warning, the nail may fall off but a new one will grow - happened to me.)

OK thanks everyone x

You would actually go to a GP for that?

My 18 month old have the same thing, the bruising moved up as the nail grew and then the whole nail fell off but grew back in quickly

You'd go to the GP for a bruise? Is this a wind up?

It’s a bruise. Don’t waste your GP’s time.

Please don't go to a GP for things like this OP, it's one of the reasons they're so swamped - unnecessary use of the service.

I play sports and these happen regularly (including the nail coming off 🤮), it's bruising on the nail bed I believe and nearly always heals itself. If it's causing pain or anguish then I'd think about the GP.

You'd go to the GP for a bruise? Is this a wind up?

The most obvious answer is that it is a bruise. However, if it does not grow out over a couple of months then yes, a GP visit would be wise.

Mine had the same thing recently, it's very likely a bruise (rather than, say, a dangerous infection casing blackened skin). You'll probably notice the banged nail fall off on a few months and see a nice new one having grown underneath

OP didn't know if it was a bruise and was asking if she should get it checked out. A completely reasonable question.

If you have concerns about people wasting NHS time then you should be nicer when they ask for advice on minor things. All your type of comment does is make people less likely to ask and more likely to just visit the GP.

If the skin around it starts to get red and inflamed etc, you can go to a pharmacist to have it looked at. They tend to be good with things like this.

Update - the nail has continued to grow in black and the black has spread up the nail. I took her to a pharmacist today and they said it could be a fungal infection and to make an appt with GP for Monday. So will see what they say.

I'd argue (as a person who has not had the same education as a pharmacist, nor a GP 😉) that it's just the bruise from
the trauma growing out.

It takes weeks.

Saw the GP today and she said she will discuss it with the team and call me back today to let me know if she needs to go to a specialist :( no idea what it is but she doesn't think it's a bruise

I'm not a doctor, but this doesn't look good to me.

WTF is wrong with people telling the OP to not go to a GP?? That's what GPs are for. It's not like she's going to go to an A&E with that.

Hope it's OK.
Curious as to what it is. Looking at the picture I'd have thought a bruise too but then I wouldn't expect it to move up the nail with any speed. OK I'm talking a 6 yos toes but I'm sure it took months for the bruised bit of my 6yos toe nail to grow out. And I've done it to my own and that took about a year.

If it was a bruise then I think the nail should start to be clear of it from the nail bed up. The bruised bit of the nail would continue to grow up the nail (probably very slowly) but clear nail would be growing behind it.

What did the GP say @LegoVsFoot

I was thinking the thickened nail looks more fungal infection than bruise.

Poorly fitted shoes can do this as well. Have you ever had her feet properly measured? Are her shoes getting too tight?

GP has messaged saying the team has said to wait 2 weeks to see if it grows out before doing anything. The black is growing up the nail past where it was before, and GP agreed when seeing the original photo, but I guess I will just have to wait

@ShakespearesBlister yes no problems with her shoes, they are properly fitted