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Original poster

dd has a very red little toe and a line going up her foot from it.. any ideas?

24 replies

AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 10:42

Dd has been unwell with a virus and bad asthma for about 3 weeks. her wheeze has improved but this morning she has a high temp (37.9) and her little toe is a very bright red with a line coming out of it up to her ankle. she hasn't hurt her toe, so i'm a little confused as to what this may be. just wondered if anyone had seen this before? thanks

OP posts:
littlelapin · 05/10/2008 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DarrellRivers · 05/10/2008 10:44

It sounds like it may be infected
She needs to see doctor today,phone OOH and get GP appointment or go to A+E whichever is easiest

DANCESwithLordPottingtonSmythe · 05/10/2008 10:45

Draw a line on your dd's foot at the end of the red line and then check it to see if it is spreading if you aren't sure. I think LL is right though.

giddly · 05/10/2008 10:45

I'd take her to the doctor's immdiately as I'd be worrkied there is an infection in the toe and it's spreading, hence the line. It may be nothing but I really would get this checked out.

belgo · 05/10/2008 10:45

Yes she needs to see a doctor today, it could be infected and that can become very nasty very quickly.

Original poster
AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 10:50

thanks all. i've just drawn a line on it and called the emergency doc. we have been to a and e 3 times the last 3 days. this is so shite. poor lamb

OP posts:
littlelapin · 05/10/2008 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 11:00

the bloody a and e fob us off the most. we were referred there twice by my gp only to be sent home. one time at 5am. if they have missed anything i will have them. i am 7 months pg with low blood pressure and have had no sleep for 5 nights. poor dd looks crap all the time. i just want someone to get her better

OP posts:
Original poster
AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 11:00

sorry, that was a savage rant... thanks for all your help

OP posts:
LilRedWG · 05/10/2008 11:03

Hope that A&E sort you out this time. Tell the doctor that they've been fobbing you off.

I hope DD is better soon.

avenanap · 05/10/2008 11:05

I've seen this before with a mozie bite. It sounds as if it's quite infected to me so you really do need to get her seen in A&E (is there a childrens A&E attached to your local childrens hospital? They are manned by paediatricians who are often alot better with children than the A&E doctors). I would bypass the out of hours at this point, it does sound like there's an infection and she'll more than likely need antibiotics that will get into her system faster than oral ones. The chances are that they wouldn't have noticed this last time you took her, an infection like this can spread very, very quickly.

CarGirl · 05/10/2008 11:08

Please go back to A&E it does sound like blood poisoning.

DarrellRivers · 05/10/2008 11:09

I would stick with the emergency doctor. Any reasonable GP would see this ASAP and get some antibiotics started either oral or refer for IV antibiotics if severe infection
It sounds like it is just starting, so hopefully oral antibiotics would be the first step, with review if not improving

avenanap · 05/10/2008 11:16

The problem with seeing the out of hours is that you have to go through NHS direct first, which, depending on how many other people they are talking to, means that the op will have to wait, then wait for a call back, then wait for an appointment, then the fun of finding a chemist on a sunday, then the oral antibiotics will need time to work. I wouldn't leave this. The GP may send her to the hospital anyway, her child will more than likely need IV antibiotics and it will probably be another wait in the hospital to get seen. It's quicker just to go to A&E, the faster her child is treated the better. It will be good if they give her oral antibiotics but to leave it another couple of hours whilst NHS direct call back, then refer could have a different result.

I'd bypass all the waiting and go straight to A&E.

Fadge · 05/10/2008 11:32

Might be Cellulitis, it can get very nasty very quickly, so I hope they take it seriously.

GeorgeTheCarpetThrasher · 05/10/2008 11:39

have you got a walk in centre near you allie? they are quicker ime than out of ours doc and a&e.

They can advise you (and give ab's if needed) or refer you to A&E if its a bad infection.

hope she's better soon

Original poster
AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 12:29

hello all. it was an infection where she had picked her toe nail. he did also mention the cellulitis. We luckily saw our own GP as he was on the on call dr this weekend at the centre. We have some antibiotics for her and have to take her straight back if the line moves any further. Thanks for you all your help and advice.

OP posts:
avenanap · 05/10/2008 12:30

I'm so glad it's sorted.

Fadge · 05/10/2008 12:52

hey Allie, good to hear they sorted it out, as soon as the antibs get into the system it shouldn't take long for it to go down, hope it's not cellulitis!

Original poster
AllieBongo · 05/10/2008 17:47

i think he said the line was cellulitis. we've kept an eye on it and put the line on in permanent pen. the redness in the line itself has gone down, but the toe is v hot and red

OP posts:
rydercup · 05/10/2008 22:28

Funnily enough my little boy had exactly the same thing this summer... we were at centreparcs and ended up driving to see an emergency doctor. Think it is called 'ascending cellulitis' - antibiotics worked a treat... but it was quite frightening as the infection seemed to travel in a few hours!!!

Cadelaide · 05/10/2008 22:35

Hope you have a good night Allie

Original poster
AllieBongo · 06/10/2008 19:54

she is much better today. the red line has gone so she now just has a red and purple toe! thank you so much for all your help and advice

OP posts:
LilRedWG · 08/10/2008 13:13

Glad she's getting better Allie.

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