Soft Tissue Foreign Body in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 5, 2024.
AMBULATORY CARE:
A soft tissue foreign body
is an object that is stuck under your child's skin. Examples of foreign bodies include wood splinters, thorns, slivers of metal or glass, and gravel.
Common signs and symptoms:
- A hard lump under your child's skin
- An open wound
- Pain when you or your child touches the injured area
- Redness and swelling
- Bruising or bleeding
Seek care immediately if:
- Blood soaks through your child's bandage.
- Your child's stitches come apart.
- You see red streaks on the skin near your child's wound.
- Your child has bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of holding firm, direct pressure over the wound.
Call your child's doctor if:
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child's wound is red, swollen, and draining pus.
- Your child's symptoms, such as pain, do not get better or get worse.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Treatment for a soft tissue foreign body:
A foreign body may dissolve or come out of your child's skin without treatment. It may take weeks or months for this to happen. Your child's healthcare provider will decide if the foreign body should be removed. The foreign body may not be removed if it could harm his or her blood vessels or nerves. Your child may need medicine to decrease pain and prevent infection such as tetanus. Tell his or her healthcare provider if he or she has had the tetanus vaccine or a tetanus booster within the last 5 years. Your child may need any of the following:
- Antibiotics help prevent a bacterial infection.
- Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your child's healthcare provider how to give this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not give your child other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to a healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your child's provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
- Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever. It is available without a doctor's order. Ask how much to give your child and how often to give it. Follow directions. Read the labels of all other medicines your child uses to see if they also contain acetaminophen, or ask your child's doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if not taken correctly.
- NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. This medicine is available with or without a doctor's order. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If your child takes blood thinner medicine, always ask if NSAIDs are safe for him or her. Always read the medicine label and follow directions. Do not give these medicines to children younger than 6 months without direction from a healthcare provider.
- Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he or she has the flu or a fever and takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin or salicylates.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Care for the wound as directed
to help prevent problems such as an infection. The following are general guidelines:
- Apply firm, steady pressure for 5 to 10 minutes if the wound bleeds. Use a clean gauze or towel to apply pressure.
- Keep the wound clean and dry. Your child's healthcare provider may tell you to leave the bandage in place for the first 48 hours. You may be told to change the bandage sooner if it gets wet or dirty. Then change the bandage as often as directed, and if it gets wet or dirty. If the wound is packed, remove and change the packing as directed. Cover the area with a bandage as directed.
- When your child's provider says it is okay to bathe, carefully wash around the wound with soap and water. Let soap and water run over the wound. Do not scrub your wound. Dry the area and put on new, clean bandages as directed.
Manage your child's symptoms:
Your child's skin may feel stretched and sore after the foreign body is removed. This is normal and should get better within a few days. The following may prevent or help symptoms such as pain and swelling:
- Have your child elevate the injured area above heart level as often as possible. This will help decrease swelling and pain. Help prop the injured area on pillows or blankets to keep it elevated comfortably.
- Apply ice on the wound for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel before you apply it to your child's skin. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain.
Follow up with your child's doctor as directed:
Your child may need to return in 48 hours to have his or her wound checked for infection. X-ray, ultrasound, or CT pictures may be used to make sure all of the foreign body has been removed. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
© Copyright Merative 2024 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
