What's up with this foot? There's a cracking infection between the right first and second toes. Signs of Bacterial Infection - is it red? - is it hot?
- is it swollen?
- is it painful?
You do not need to have all of these symptoms for there to be a nasty infection present.
Signs of Worsening Infection
- redness spreading up the leg
- flu-like symptoms
**GET TO THE DOCTOR OR A&E AS A MATTER OF URGENCY**
First line of defence If you are otherwise healthy, try saltwater bathing the affected foot. That's a basin of tepid water with a decent couple of tablespoons of salt, soaking the foot for 5-10 minutes and allowing it to air dry. If there is an open wound, spritz it with some Savlon spray (or equivalent. Please check that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients) and apply a clean, dry dressing. Repeat this daily for 3-4 days. If the dressing gets wet or becomes soiled, repeat the process (soak, dry, dress).
If your symptoms are worsening, or if there is no improvement after 3-4 days, contact a Podiatrist or your GP for further advice. You can contact me here.
DISCLAIMER: If you are diabetic - even if you're very well controlled - any sign of infection should be treated as an emergency and you must contact your Podiatrist or GP as soon as possible.