DD has a whitlow. Trying MagSulph, but going away Monday - so should I see GP?

[fruittea]

It started yesterday, on the side of her big toe. It's red and inflamed, although not really badly, and a bit oozy (which I'm hoping is a good thing). Have bathed it in warm water, and got some magnesium sulphate today, which I've put on and plastered over. She's not in too much discomfort with it.

Thing is, we go abroad on Monday, and I can't get a GP appointment. Not sure whether I should just continue to self-treat and hope it goes away, or whether these things usually end up with antibiotics needed so therefore I might as well get it over with and go to the out of hours clinic.

Never had one before - what's your experience?

TIA

I get these on my fingers quite a bit as I'm a hideous cuticle picker [yuck]. Never had one that needed antibiotics and they get pretty pus-filled sometimes.

I suppose a complication could be the warm, moist environment of feet so maybe if you keep it well-aired and dry? Depends what caused it I suppose.

Thanks. Good idea, but won't work if I continue with the magnesium sulphate, as the area's all plastered up! Do you do anything to yours, or just wait for them to go? No idea what caused it, by the way.

I had one the other day on my finger. It really really hurt and throbbed and looked awful. I think I damaged the side of my finger doing my nails and it became infected.

I eventually got some AB'S for it and it calmed down. I think if I'd left it much longer it would've got quite nasty.

I had no idea it had a name. The nurse told me it was called a whitlow. She did mention mag sulphate paste was good to use initially (I didn't know all this so hadn't been using anything) so you are doing the correct thing. Maybe that and the bathing will be enough to clear it up hopefully.

No, I have to admit that I just pull back the skin to make the pus come out (god, I'm making myself feel a little queasy here) as it hurts less then. It just gradually gets better over 2 or 3 days.

I really don't know if it would be different on a toe though as I know what causes mine. It depends how bad the infection is I suppose. Hopefully it'll be noticeably improved in the morning.

Thanks both. I don't think it's too badly infected as it's not too oozy, just a bit, and also not discoloured or smelly. Maybe I'll have caught it quickly enough to sort it. But maybe if it's still bad by the weekend I should get some antibiotics from the out-of-hours service, would hate to be trying to deal with it in Spain!

Sounds a good plan.

It's always hard to sort stuff like that out when you're away. Mine felt loads better after a few hours of ab's - mind you I had let it drag on for about two weeks and it was looking pretty ropey.

Have a fab holiday and hope dd is better soon

ive still got a whitlow on my little toe after several months , tried everything , i had a course of anti biotics too. recently i managed to get a small amount of potassium permanganate, its very good for killing all bacteria, ive had one foot soak with this so far and it does feel a little better, however im going to get some magnesium sulphate and try to draw out the whitlow