Is pus a good sign?

[Appletee]

DD (6) has an infected toe, that has spread bacteria in her whole body. She’s been quite poorly but seems much better today. She started antibiotics yesterday.

Today her toe, which was just red and swollen yesterday, has a large pocket full of pus.

Is this normal? And a good thing? Does it mean the antibiotics are working? I‘m hoping she doesn’t bash it and burst it, but will clean it thoroughly if she does.

I’ve seen this before where the infection was deeper and is working its way to the surface. The out did also burst out without it being hit accidentally. I would keep an eye on it and ensure that if it bursts it’s kept well clean. Antibiotics should kick in soon enough and help to.

I'd let the pus out. Will feel so much better and be able to drain.

Why wouldn’t you burst it? That pus has to go somewhere. I’d rather burst it with a sterile instrument, clean it and then dress it than risk it accidentally bursting

That’s what I was hoping was happening, that the infection is coming to the surface

@Springadorable @WanderingWisteria
I don’t want to burst it because I don’t want to create an open wound for more bacteria to enter.

The pus site on her toe is the size of a 5 pence piece.

DD was very unwell, with fever and vomiting. I don’t want more bacteria in her body.

I’ve had an infected toe before, and always squeezes pus out. Everyday after a shower, I would squeeze the red area , not just where the pus is. However, it has painful to do this. The sooner the pus has gone, the better.

nb. Not a doctor, but just sameobe who likes squeezing pus!

If it was my toe I’d burst it!
it will burst on its own and will be a relief for her.

The pus is dead white blood cells from fighting and eating the bacteria - it needs to come out. As you've said, she's had a systemic infection; if you keep the wound clean and dress it it's not going to have more bacteria in it than it already does, it's full of it!

I had similar a couple of years ago - the nurse I saw advised me to put the toe in hot salty water - as hot as I could bear - to help the pus make its way out. Once it started draining (I didn’t stab it as it was too painful) it got better very quickly.

Soak her foot in a bowl of warm water with salt to help bring it to a head.

Use a sterilised needle to allow the pus to drain out and relieve the pressure of it building up.

If you can see the pus under the skin you need to release it.

Poor child.

Agree with pp. soak in water. Sterile needle and pop. Pus is infection that needs to come out. Then clean and dress every day. My son had a similar thing on his knee. The pus went green under the skin and it had to be popped. Good luck and hope your DD is feeling better soon x

Yes pus coming out is a good sign I was told. A week in mild compression continuously and when district nurses took the bandage off there was still that liquid coming out the foot pad and it going back to it’s usual swollen state before they slap another’s week’s compression on.

12 weeks post op Sunday so not quick to heal but I did have a dream one night this week it disappeared so am hopeful.

Yep this.

Ds ended up having both his big toenails removed last year (aged 12) because of recurring infections. We did all the right things but they said they were just growing at a bad angle. He’s very pleased they were removed.

Hope you don’t mind me posting this, and I don’t want to scare you, but I woke up thinking of this thread. Did the gp prescribe antibiotics or the hospital? It’s only that some of the symptoms could be signs of sepsis. If she’s been investigated for this, and / or is on the mend, please ignore me.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/

Thanks for thinking of this. DDs GP prescribed the antibiotics, he’s a paediatrician. They were very concerned about her and did a number of tests. She’s definitely on the mend now and we’re going back on Tuesday to check everything is getting better.

Soak her foot in hot salt water a few times a day. The pus will find its way out.

She’s just had another foot bath and it started oozing by itself. I gently pushed out what I could and we’ve put a dressing on it.

But if you leave the pus there, you are leaving a source of infection in her body. If it doesn't come out, it can only be reabsorbed. If you drain it, you get rid of that and you can protect it perfectly well with something like savlon and a good plaster.

@Appletee That’s good to hear. Sounds like she had a thorough examination, rather than ‘it’s a virus’ type check-up.