What to Know about Pediatric Foot Care
If your child is experiencing foot problems, you need to seek out a specialist. Your child needs a podiatrist, an expert in treating feet. Dr. Jeremy Thomas at Triangle Foot & Ankle Specialist in Southern Pines, NC, offers a wide range of podiatry services for people of all ages, including children.
Taking Care of Your Child’s Feet
First, let’s look at some of the ways you can help keep your child’s feet protected and healthy. You should:
- Avoid having your child go barefoot, to prevent injury, fungal infections, and other issues
- Make sure your child wears the right footwear for the activity your child is doing
- Examine your child’s feet regularly, looking for cuts, blisters, and other wounds
- Apply antibiotic cream to wounds and bandage them to prevent infection
Your podiatrist can help too. Children are susceptible to a wide variety of foot issues. These are just a few of the most common children’s issues your podiatrist can treat:
- Flat feet
- Toes pointing out or in
- Frequent tripping
- Ankle bulging
- Bowed legs
- Ingrown toenails
- Knock knees
- Plantar warts
Depending on the condition your child is suffering from, your podiatrist may recommend:
- Custom orthotics, to help with gait issues, realignment of feet and toes, and flat feet
- Laser therapy, to treat ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and plantar warts
- Exercises and physical therapy, to help with gait issues, leg strengthening, and foot and toe realignment
Older children may experience foot, toe, and ankle injuries, especially if your child is active or plays a sport. Some of the children’s foot injuries a podiatrist can treat include:
- Bruising and swelling
- Cuts and lacerations
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Dislocated bones
- Fractured or broken bones
Depending on the injury, your podiatrist may recommend:
- Wound dressing to prevent infection
- Ice packs to reduce swelling
- Surgical therapy to repair damaged areas
- Assistive devices including walking casts, boots, or crutches
Want To Know More About Pediatric Foot Care?
To discover more about pediatric foot care, call Dr. Jeremy Thomas at Triangle Foot & Ankle Specialist in Southern Pines, NC. You can reach him in the office by calling (910) 757-0058, so call today.
