Parents can prevent a common childhood foot problem by following some simple recommendations.
Ingrown toenails are one of the most frequent conditions I treat in children. Many kids hide their ingrown toenails from their parents, even though the condition can cause significant pain. An ingrown nail can break the skin and lead to dangerous infections.
This condition is caused by tight shoes, tight socks and incorrect nail trimming for most cases. In others, the children may inherit the tendency for nails to curve. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons suggests that parents would do the following:
Teach children how to trim their toenails properly. Trim toenails in a fairly straight line, and don’t cut them too short.
Make sure children’s shoes fit. Shoe width is more important than length. Make sure that the widest part of the shoe matches the widest part of your child’s foot.
If a child develops a painful ingrown toenail, reduce the inflammation by soaking the child’s foot in room-temperature water and gently massaging the side of the nail fold.
The only proper way to treat a child’s ingrown toenail is with a minor surgical procedure at a doctor’s office. After the surgery I may also prescribe antibiotics to children with infected ingrown toenails. Parents should never try to dig the nail out or cut it off. These dangerous “bathroom surgeries” carry a high risk for infection.
Glen Donovan, D.P.M.
Dr. Donovan is the Chief of Podiatry at Coney Island Hospital.
For more information on foot problems please contact Dr. Donovan at 718-616-5509.
How do you properly measure a child’s foot? Should they stand up or sit down? Should the foot be measured at the end of the day or the beginnig of the day?
Thank you, Dr. Donovan, for recommendations. I think each parent should follow them.
Dear James,
It’s important to periodically measure your child’d foot size.
Measure your child’s feet at the end of the day when their feet are the largest due to swelling.
Measure your child’s feet wearing the socks they plan to wear with their new shoes/sneakers. If you are buying sandals then take measurement without socks
Always measure both feet.
Fit shoes to your larger foot.
Chilld should stand with equal weight on both feet to ensure that the foot being measured has elongated and spread to it’s maximum size
Use a Brannock Device
Sincerely,
Dr. Donovan
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