Sick with worry- baby's finger

[RiceRiceBaby16]

My 9 month old DS has some kind of finger infection, it is about day 10 from initial redness. I am so sick with worry that I can't eat or sleep. The first days it was just redness with a little swelling, we soaked in salt water several times thinking it's just something minor. Day 7 it got much, much worse suddenly. Called 111 who advised to go to A&E, it was Saturday night couldn't see GP until Monday. We went into A&E Sunday morning. After a 3 hour wait that seemed to last a lifetime, seen by a doctor. He just said it's an infection, no diagnosis other than that. Given amoxicillin. Nurse drained two pus pockets- he's never writhed and screamed in pain like that, left me traumatised. She applied magnesium Sulphate and bandaged it up. 27hrs later which was yesterday evening he pulled off the bandage. Of course it was only just day one of antibiotics so I didn't expect it to get better yet. But it looks awful and I just can't function with such a bad feeling in my gut. I feel so awfully stupid and guilty
For not seeking help when it was just a little red and swollen.
My searches have me thinking it's either herpetic whitlow, panaritium, or paronychia. I don't think it's the latter two anymore because on Sunday two more little blisters formed on the same finger, but a centimetre or so away from the main swelling. And a blister on his tongue. Coincidentally I had a cold sore on my lip which he scratched, Around the time that the redness on his finger began. I didn't initially add the two together until now. But doctor dismissed this and just said whatever caused it doesn't matter now, he just needs antibiotics.
But the cause should be important as wouldn't that affect the type of treatment?
The strangest thing in all of this, he doesn't seem to be in much pain.
Touch stuff with that finger, banging toys, but of course not too keen on the finger being touched.
Will make GP appointment to get another opinion but in the meantime has anyone else seen or experienced anything similar? I have the worst case scenarios in my head and feel like such a bad parent. Thinking to maybe make an appointment with a private paediatrician too. Maybe blood tests could give us some indication of the type of infection or problem?

I'm all over the place so hoping I didn't miss any important details here

PS the photo is today, so I think day 10 from initial redness. I have photos of the earlier stages too if at all relevant.

Could an ingrown nail cause such a bad infection? But the additional blisters wouldn't make sense? Or Could the additional blisters be a sign of the infection spreading, meaning it could be ingrown nail?
I'm not looking for solutions or diagnosis on mumsnet of course and we will continue to see specialists, but perhaps other mums have experienced something like this with their children...
Posting more photos from earlier stages of infection- couple days ago

It looks exactly like my infected fingernail did a few months ago. My DS has also had an infected toenail which looked similar (although less inflamed in his case). Salt water soaks didn't work for me (they did for my DS), but antibiotics sorted it out. Give it time for the antibiotics to work and try to breathe... I know it looks horrible, but once the antibiotics have kicked in (make sure you give the full course even if it starts to look better, to ensure full eradication of the bacteria) it'll be back to normal in no time. Don't be alarmed if the nail looks a bit strange for a while, while it grows out. Ingrown nails can cause infection, so make sure you cut the ends straight and not rounded (so that the nail can't dig into the skin as it grows).

Lastly... you sound very anxious about this and I want to reassure you that there's honestly no need to be. Your baby is being treated and although it looks nasty, this is a relatively minor infection that will clear up. If it gets worse (especially if the redness or hotness spreads) seek further medical attention, but otherwise I'd sit tight and let the antibiotics do their job. No harm in a few more warm/salty soaks at the same time... my GP swears by doing that!

Don’t blame yourself! You have done all the right things. It’s good he’s happy in himself.

I think if the abx haven’t improved things dramatically within 48 hours they probably aren’t the correct ones, so at that point I’d call the GP again.

Thank you Poppins, I am really anxious indeed, in general since becoming a first time mum with little support as family are all abroad, but even more now with this issue. But you have helped me calm a little. Although if it is an ingrown nail , will antibiotics be enough, will it not need to be "fixed" to get the nail out of the skin if you know what I mean..?

I’d let the GP see it.

My dc gets fingernail and toenail infections and they can be sore but the antibiotics do work. That does look nasty though so as your little one is only a baby I would call the gp.

Thank you for replying. I'll make an appointment just in case and see how things are end of tomorrow / Thursday morning. Doesn't help that it's extremely hard to get him to take the medication. Mixed with yoghurt worked once. Anything else has resulted in him spitting them out, gagging etc :( Still struggling to administer the first dose today and 10am already. But will do anything it takes as we're wishing on this to work

Contacting GP for appointment just in case and will keep going with the antibiotics in the meantime. I just really hope they can diagnose correctly so we have the right medication ASAP.

It looks to me as though the nail has perhaps been torn too short and an infection has got in that way. My DS was always getting toe infections this way because he insisted on biting his toenails. ABs usually kicked in after a couple of days.

Your anxiety seems quite high - are you getting any help? There will be worse situations than this as your DS grows - once they are mobile all sorts of accidents occur.

You’ve done the right thing getting him sorted with some antibiotics. Best thing now is to give them a chance to work. As a PP said, contact the GP if it’s not looking quite a bit better in a couple of days in case you need a different antibiotic.

Give lots of fluids to help the body fight infection.

I mean this in the kindest way possible but I agree with a PP that you do sound anxious. I raise it because kids and babies get sick and you’ll get your share of bugs, bumps and bruises. It would help you a lot in the long run if you could find a way to become more comfortable and less distressed when something like this happens. It might be worth a chat with your GP to begin with?

One of mine had an infected toenail aged about 7. Was old enough to put socks on and generally shower himself so wasn't spotted until it was very swollen and he never complained. It exploded with pus on two occasions but antibiotics did work. Caused by a bit of ingrowing nail - a tiny bit which I removed gently. Quite shocking something so small could cause that much trouble.

You could try soaking it in dilute medical grade hydrogen peroxide, you can buy it for about £1 in a chemist. If it can get to the infection it will oxidise the bacteria and fuzz. I used it quite a lot for things like this for my DC over the years.

Are you using a syringe to give medicine? Sit DS on your lap, lay him back slightly and tuck his arms firmly under one of yours. Place syringe against his inside cheek and squeeze in bit by bit.

As above syringe the medicine. You'll need to hold him still. Can be handy to have a second person or use a car seat if on your own. Need to be cruel to be kind in these cases. If he's had blisters elsewhere if could be hand foot and mouth but as the nurse said it's not really relevant as this is a secondary infection. Dd had similar with a chicken pock on her toe. Needed 2 lots of antibiotics as when they got the culture back it was a different bacteria to the norm.

I know my anxiety is probably not at a "normal" level. It's sort of even hard to admit to myself but this is an eye opener. Although in my eyes, this does look like a very severe and not minor infection- maybe just because he's my baby? I don't know.
The thought of all kinds of other ailments in the future do scare me. He's not crawling yet so this is the first "bump" in the road for us in terms of his health.

I've tried the method of leaning him back and putting it with the syringe in his cheek but he choked quite badly :( maybe I didn't do it slow enough, but he was fighting it so much. Will try again. Another problem is now that I've wasted two doses by mixing with food that he then didn't eat.

Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic so that sounds like the right call for this sort of infection. Please don't feel you don't have a correct 'diagnosis' just because the doctor said it didn't matter what specific bacteria is causing the issue. By all means speak to your GP for reassurance, but I suspect they will only agree that you should continue with the treatment course – then return if it doesn't clear it up.

I remember well it's very difficult to get babies to take antibiotics, though! If you do a search on Mumsnet, there are probably tips on what worked for others.

Please don't blame yourself – it's pretty common and nothing you've done wrong. My son had this same thing and it looked so sore but ABs did their job.

Will look into this thank you. Just a bit worried as he's still tiny he will lick it off his hand

Fwiw he's not choking he's spluttering. Choking is silent. Tip chin back slightly and you can gently rub throat to encourage swallowing. I wouldn't lie pall the way back. A slight angle is enough

I've tried the method of leaning him back and putting it with the syringe in his cheek but he choked quite badly :( maybe I didn't do it slow enough, but he was fighting it so much. Will try again. Another problem is now that I've wasted two doses by mixing with food that he then didn't eat.

You do have to hold them really firmly. I never found mixing meds with anything helpful. They never got the whole dose, if at all. Squirt in bit by bit, and let them swallow in between. I always found that a chocolate button afterwards helped, but he may be a bit too young for that.

It is very important he get all the does. My ds used to choke and spit the medication out. In the end I used to lay him over my lap on his back, put syringe into mouth and squirt at same time hold his nose. It is not nice but he had to swallow meds to breathe. It was only way I could get him to swallow it. If 2 does are already wasted he must swallow rest.

Thank you all, the food mixing really doesn't seem to be working out. Will try direct with syringe shortly once he's awake from his nap, DP is home so I have someone to help

You’ve got to hold him firmly - ideally with another adult holding his arms, but wrap a towel around his arms and body if that’s not possible.

Aim the syringe towards the back inside of his cheek and BLOW into his face as you’re squeezing it. It stimulates a swallow reflex and works for me every time.

Don’t mix it in food, doctors don’t recommend this because you often can’t get the full dose into them this way.

Getting the antibiotics into him is your number 1 priority. You’ve got to be cruel to be kind!

Oh good, have just seen your DP is home. One of you pins him down, the other gives him the meds.

Try mixing the dose with a bit of flavouring - it really helps! This is really strong and a drop goes a long way! theskinnyfoodco.com/products/barista-shot-coffee-syrup-bundle?variant=39309480558690&currency=gbp&utm_term=shopify_GB_6554817396834_39309480558690&gclid=CjwKCAjwrNmWBhA4EiwAHbjEQENPO-OkjWAgjTzdD-UhIUBjUOxlT8Sez9eCpIs4IkgWFTXpWT-aAhoCiSwQAvD_BwE (we use the vanilla one)

Does he suck that finger? Looks exactly like my nephew's who is an obsessive finger sucker. It will clear up just fine!

Get the ABs in by syringe OP, you’ve had some good advice up above about how to do it. My 8mo baby has eczema and it became infected when she was about 5mo. She’s had to have them since and after a couple of ropey attempts the first time or two with the syringe, she swallows them well now if she needs them. You have to do it bit by bit and ideally needs two people.

Your anxiety does sound disproportionate to this issue and I say that as someone who is having in person CBT therapy for anxiety with the NHS. It’s a difficult condition to live with, but you’ll encounter so much along the way with your lo and need to be able to manage more comfortably than this.

All the best to you and get those ABs in!