So your child stepped on a rusty nail
YOUR children will go outside barefooted or in improper footwear no matter how many times you remind them not to, and one of the dangers of this is that they can step on rusty nails hidden in your yard.
Paediatric surgeon Dr Noel McLennon said it is quite common for this to occur, and when it happens, parents should be ready to act.
“When you discover that your child has stepped on a rusty nail, try not to panic. There is a series of things that you need to do, so you must try to remain calm. First of all, remove the child from the location to prevent reoccurrence. If the nail is still inside the child’s foot, remove it gently. Next, if you have some antiseptic, wash the affected foot. Then seek medical attention,” he advised.
He said that parents should also take the child’s immunisation card along with them so that the doctor can verify whether or not the child received a tetanus shot. This provides a guideline for the doctor when planning the course of medication to prescribe.
Dr McLennon said that when a child steps on a nail the matter should be treated as an emergency. He explained that there are a number of possible illnesses outside of the popularly associated tetanus or ‘lock jaw’ that could affect the injured child.
“The clostridium tetani, which can cause ‘lock jaw’ or tetanus, can be fatal in children, especially if a vaccine or booster has not been given within 10 years,” Dr McLennon explained.
“Another equally dangerous bacterial infection is the necrotizing fasciitis. It destroys the skin and tissues very quickly. This could result in a need for the surgical removal of dead and infected tissue, and in rare cases the need for amputation.”
He said that there is also the risk of children developing an infection of the blood that could affect vital organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart and lungs.
“There may be varying degrees of contamination by bacteria that can cause both local and systematic infections. You could cause further harm if you decide to ‘watch’ or self-medicate the child,” the doctor said.
“This could mask or even exacerbate infections.”
He also advised parents to treat all nail injuries — whether rusty or new — the same, because it is the nail that carries bacteria. Parents should also ensure that the child completes taking all the prescribed medication.
