How to treat a whitlow on the toe?

[mckenzie]

DS has a whitlow on his toe, diagnosed by MIL and DH's aunt who both have medical backgrounds. They are suggesting soaking in hot salt water and then applying magnesium sulphate paste to draw out the infection. Does anyone know if this would be the right was forward please?
TIA

I should add the only reason I am questioning Mil's advice is because she hasn't been active in medicine for a very long time and she suggested that I check.

mag sulph very effective at drawing stuff out

My FIL is old school medic and I ahve to say most of his DIY remedies are pretty spot on!

BTW if its caused by ingrowing toe nail, cutting a small 'v' in the top edge of toe nail can relieve pressure

I had one on my finger and the GP told me to use the method your MIL suggested and it worked....but.... this was about 20 years ago (so maybe she was my doc )

I think they are right - mag sulph well known to be good with surface infections.

It also draws out splinters really well -we use this when the DC get them as its preferable to digging them out with a needle.

In my line of work, a whitlow is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is probably cause by a muchness of other things. I have done lots of emergency sessions over the BH and am now chilling with rioja so am probably wrong.

Unfortunately Grumpy, that's what I read on the NHS Direct website and I am long term sufferer of herpes simplex virus. So perhaps it's something that DS is a carrier off and this is how it is presenting itself.

sorry, I meant to also say thank you all for the other replies. It looks better already having been soaked in hot salt water for a while this afternoon and been out of the socks and trainers. I've now covered it in the mag sulph and told DS it's sandals for the next few days, much to his disgust.

Well mck, I would possiblyu chat to GP about it at next routinie type appt. I don't think it's emergency type issue however, I haven't had DC's with the problem so am not sure how it presents "acutely" if you see what I mean.

Hope al is well and you sound eminently sensible so I'm sure all will be well ultimately. sandals are sooo zeitgeist, DS need to get with the times maaaan.....

xx

thanks very much. DS has promised to keep the plaster holding the mag sulph in place until the morning. and then I'll reapply. He'll at least do his best with whatever we advise as he desperately wants to get his football trainers back on. And I don't think he'll fancy going back to school in sandals