An infected toe can be caused due to several reasons. One of the most prominent of causes for an infected toe is an ingrown toenail. Literally, an ingrown toenail depicts the growth of a toenail inwards into the skin. This usually happens on the big toe of the feet and is more common a phenomenon in adults rather than in children. But there may be cases when a child also gets an infected toe due to in growth in the toenail. If no immediate action is taken, an ingrown toenail will develop into an infection or even an abscess. This might needs a surgical process to treat.

Ingrown toenail can be caused if the toenails are cut too short or if you wear tight and closed footwear. These things might cause the nail to grow deeper inside the skin. Even simple things like stubbing or kicking a football might cause breakage of nails inwards that might progress into an infection.

Symptoms of an ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail causes excruciating pain and the pain is actually one of the initial signs of the infection. The infected toe nail might become red and swollen. This is a time when a doctor has to be consulted. A physical examination will confirm the presence of an infection and the necessary treatment can be adopted.

Here are some of the treatment steps that should be taken to deal with an ingrown toenail:

• Keep the sore toe in warm water for about 20 minutes to get some relief.

• You can also keep a soft ball of cotton under the ingrown toenail to keep the nail lifted. Repeat this by changing the cotton ball till the nail finally grows out and can be cut.

• Do not keep any sharp instruments under the ingrown nail to keep it lifted.

• Never drain out the pus by puncturing it.

• Wearing tight or closed footwear should also be avoided.

If there is no difference in the pain or if it further aggravates, you might have to get a minor surgery done. The doctor will get the entire or a part of the ingrown nail removed under the influence of anaesthesia. If necessary, the root of the nail may also have to be removed to avoid recurrence of the infected toe.

Proper care has to be ensured post surgery to avoid any problems and to make the healing process quick. Therefore, it is essential that you follow the post operation instructions given by the doctor. Here are some instructions that a doctor usually provides:

• Soak the toe is warm water for 15 minutes, twice or thrice daily.

• Use antibiotic cream over the affected toe and bandage it if you have to wear closed footwear.

These simple steps will help in dealing with an infected toe in the most efficient manner.