Freaked out: splinters from treated wood
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Anonymous
| DS (9) was at a cook-out tonight and somehow got a cluster of tiny splinters from sitting on our friend's (recently treated) deck - we only discovered it when he was getting in his PJs. Only one is significant in size (though not huge) and it's pretty close to the skin though we couldn't get it out before bed. The skin around the splinters has raised up a bit so from a distance it almost looks like he has little bug bites. They don't really itch or hurt. We're at MIL's and she has no neosporin so we cleaned the area, applied cortisone cream and a bandaid (she was a nurse and that was her recommendation). I have been reading about treated wood and how quickly it can cause infection. Anyone have experience with this?? In the morning I plan to get neosporin ASAP and soak him in a warm bath and try again to work that bigger splinter out. But do I need to worry? |
Anonymous
| An infection is not the end of the world for a 9 year old. He'll be fine. |
Anonymous
| Most slivers don't get infected. I work in a clinic where people are always tearing in, panicy to have us remove all slivers. Honestly, slap a bandaid on it if it's catching and annoying you and leave it alone. It will probably work it's way out with dead skin and if not, you'll know with plenty of time if there's a problem. |
Anonymous
| Soak it in water and if seems to be getting infected then go to an urgent care clinic. |
Anonymous
| We have a treated deck and 3YO DD has gotten a few splinters a year (despite it being well finished and us enforcing shoes!). Never been infected, we just wash with soap and water. |
Anonymous
| Don't put a steroid on it (cortisone) if you think it's infected, it will make it spread. |
Anonymous
|
OP here. No infection and no pain, which is good. He's taking a warm bath each night and then slathering with neosporin and putting a bandaid over it. Hopefully it will work itself out.
I had been freaked out the night it happened because the deck had just been chemically cleaned and he had what appeared to be an allergic reaction. But the swelling has gone down. |
Anonymous
| Deep breath, I know you're worried (I'm a worrier too)- it will be fine. I would let the splinter work it's way out- if it starts to look infected take him to the doctor. |
Anonymous
|
Are you talking about a splinter? From wood?
It is fine. No need even for Neosporin at this point. Breathe. |
Anonymous
| I don't think she's worried about infection as much as the chemicals from the treated wood. |
Anonymous
What kind of chemical cleaning? You can get oxygen-based cleaner for decks that works better than just about anything else, and it's also super-safe (it's basically OxyClean). |
Anonymous
| For all you “don’t worry, relax” chanters I am 6 weeks post a nasty stab under my big toe from a pressure treated deck and I am still not better. Hospitalized for IV antibiotics, surgery to remove retained wood, constant swelling as I walk around. It’s not a joke |
Anonymous
+1 It can be bad. Years ago my mom got some big splinters (treated wood) in her foot and needed surgery. If it looks bad and it hurts, get medical attention. |
Anonymous
| People really just walk around with splinters wondering if they will get inflected instead of just pulling them out? |
Anonymous
| You need drawing salve. It’s at drugstores. Ichthammol ointment. You slather it in the area at night, cover it up, and it sucks the little splinters out. |