If you have an active child, you may have to deal with toe injuries at some point. Children get them from a wide range of activities, including running and jumping. Fortunately, most injuries are minor and won't inhibit your child's daily activities.

However, sometimes injuries can seem bad, but you aren't sure whether they need treatment. Keep reading to learn more about common childhood toe injuries and when you should see a pediatrician.

Common Toe Injuries in Children

Toe injuries can either be sudden or from overuse. Examples of sudden toe injuries include:

  • Stubbing the toe on another object.
  • Injury from another object falling on the toes.
  • Dislocating the toe.
  • Cuts and bruises to the toe.
  • Injury to the toenails.

Overuse toe injuries have to do with your child's activity. Toes don't typically get overuse injuries in the usual sense. However, overuse injuries in the foot can affect the toes and put extra strain on them. Typical foot overuse injuries that may affect the toes include:

  • Stress fractures
  • Pain in the ball of the foot
  • Heel issues that make your child want to walk on their toes
  • Tendon issues

Times When a Toe Problem is an Emergency

Generally, toe injuries are not serious, and most are not broken. However, if your child is missing a toenail or you see a bone sticking out of the skin, seek immediate treatment. You should also seek immediate treatment if the toe seems unusually cold or if it's mangled or turning black. Emergency treatment is also warranted if your child has been bleeding and you cannot stop the bleeding within 10 minutes.

Signs You Need to See a Pediatrician

Many toe injuries don't need emergency treatment, and you can treat pain and swelling at home. However, if your child has any of these problems, see your pediatrician as soon as possible:

  • Pain that doesn't go away within a few days
  • Unusually large swelling
  • Your child is younger than a year old
  • Your child has severe pain
  • Your child has a wound that looks infected or dirty

Toe pain is not fun, but it usually goes away in a short time. If your child has a broken toe, the pediatrician can use splints to immobilize it. If your child is experiencing any pain, they may prescribe pain killers. Your pediatrician can give you advice on what to do in your case. Call a local pediatrician for an appointment if you suspect a broken bone or other issues that affect your child's feet.

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