“Can a severe toe nail infection spread to other parts of the body?”
I am a 39 year old diabetic man. I had a severe to nail infection 2 weeks back. According to the doctor’s advice i got the toe nail to be removed as there was no other way to treat the infection. Could this still put me at a risk of further infection? Can an infection from the toe nail spread to the other parts of the body?
4 Answers
If the infection is localized to the toenail, then that treatment is sufficient. However if it is involving the surrounding area, it is possible for the infection to spread. We worry about cellulitis and osteomyelitis, which is when the bone gets infected, with diabetic patients. Infection is very easy to occur in uncontrolled diabetes and difficult to treat. It must be followed very closely.
Suzanne Sirota Rozenberg, DO, FAOCD
Suzanne Sirota Rozenberg, DO, FAOCD
That really depends on the kind of infection, and the state of your immune system. Since your system is already compromised by diabetes, there is risk that a bacterial infection can spread locally and along the fascia (cellulitis) or even through the lymphatics or blood stream to other parts of your body in a dangerous way. See a dermatologist and or an infectious disease specialist.
The nail fungus will not spread w nail avulsion, but if it gets a bacterial infection (cellulitis) as a complication of this avulsion, then you might need to take oral or IV antibiotics to fight it....if the nail plate is really thick and it gives you trouble, then the avulsion has to be considered, but keeping in mind the risk of cellulitis.
Bacterial and fungal infection sure can spread. Antibiotics and antifungal medicines should be first, though if there’s ingrown toenail, the nail may need to be removed.
