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When to Call for Skin Foreign Object
Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. Copyright
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Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. Copyright Is Your Child Sick? A foreign object stuck in the skin Some examples are a wood splinter, fishhook, glass sliver or needle. When to Call for Skin Foreign Object Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Object is a BB Object is causing severe pain You want a doctor to take out the object You tried and can't get the object out Wound looks infected spreading redness Fever occurs You think your child has a serious injury You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Deep puncture wound and last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours You have other questions or concerns Self Care at Home Tiny, pain-free slivers near the surface that don't need to be removed Tiny plant or cactus spines or fiberglass slivers that need to be removed Minor sliver, splinter or thorn that needs removal. You think you can do it at home. Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Object is a BB Object is causing severe pain You want a doctor to take out the object You tried and can't get the object out Wound looks infected spreading redness Fever occurs You think your child has a serious injury You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Deep puncture wound and last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours You have other questions or concerns Self Care at Home Tiny, pain-free slivers near the surface that don't need to be removed Tiny plant or cactus spines or fiberglass slivers that need to be removed Minor sliver, splinter or thorn that needs removal.
A more recent article on foreign bodies in the skin is available. Although puncture wounds are common, retained foreign bodies are not. Wounds with a foreign body sensation should be evaluated. The presence of wood or vegetative material, graphite or other pigmenting materials, and pain is an indication for foreign body removal.