Small wound infection

[HedgeEnd]

I had a small splinter in the bottom of my thumb yesterday which I removed easily as the end was poking out. Now I have a swollen thumb/half of my hand. The 'wound' area is about 1 cm radius, raised with a red ring round the outside. My hand and wrist are warm and it hurts! I've never had this before. I don't know if it's Lupus related or just one of those things ie it got some bacteria in it. Anyone else had this? It was only a tiny splinter just under the surface. Oh and the wound, hand and arm are itchy.

[LupusKaren]

I really would advise you get this checked out ASAP via A & E, if you do have infection, you do not want it to get way out of hand.

[PMRpro]

Yes - I think this needs a doctor to have a look at it asap. That sounds as if it is infected - and if you have lupus I assume you are on immunosuppressant medication which means your body can't fight it.

[eekt]

I had a pine needle from my Christmas broken off in my thumb Christmas 2015...splinter extracted, but to this day it will still swell when I'm flaring...top advice from Karen and PMRpro! A&E will be quiet this time on a Sunday... Keep us posted, and be well xxx

[luupysue]

As its Sunday and probably quiet to to either the nearest walk in center or A&E today don't leave it and take a list of meds your on. Good luck

[HedgeEnd]

Thanks for your comments. I've soaked it in salt water and will go to the GP first thing tomorrow.

[EOLHPC in reply to HedgeEnd]

You’ve had great advice!

I suggest you ask about long course high dose antibiotics...i got palmed off with short course low dose and although the blackthorn stabbing infection seemed to clear up (and no thron remnants appered to hevd remained in the finger), the infection spread throught the tendons in that hand and after a few weeks i was an emergency inpatient in isolation with IV “dettol” drip for 3 days, threatened with surgery if the sepsis don’t respind pos etc. Luckily the IV worked, but the hand needed at least a year & physiotherapy to recover...

Please let us know how this goes 🍀🍀🍀🍀 Coco

[Sara_A]

If it is infected it would only require a normal course of antibiotics.If it is red and warm it’s likely infected. It also depends what was in it, where the splinter was from or was it a thorn?? Are u up to date with ur tetanus?

Def get it checked tho

[HedgeEnd]

Thanks everyone. It is infected. GP gave me antibiotics and said to go back if it didn't improve or got worse. If it get's much worse or it's out of hours to go to A & E. Not sure where the splinter was from as I have horses so often get small splinters/cuts from brambles. fences, hedges etc. Thanks for all the advise.