TOE WAY!
Podiatrist ‘surprised’ by oozing pus after cutting open fungal-infected toenail
While treating a patient with a heavily infected big toe, this podiatrist gets a nasty surprise after trying to cut away at the damaged nail
DISTURBING footage has emerged of a podiatrist treating a heavily infected toenail.
The foot specialist was looking after a patient suffering from a severe fungal infection under their big toe - but got a nasty surprise when trying to treat the condition.
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To alleviate the symptoms of the patient's acute paronychia (an infection of the folds of tissue around a nail), podiatrist Marion Wing Chie Yau cut away at the infected nail on the big toe.
But as Marion began removing more of the nail, large bubbles of pus started oozing out of it.
The specialist was allegedly surprised at the incredible amount of yellow liquid that came from the patient's toe.
And because of the large infection, the patient apparently didn't feel any pain as their nail was cut away.
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Marion Wing Chie Yau, from the Harley Medical Foot and Nail Clinic in London, said: "I was pretty excited because I knew that there was something underneath the nail but was very surprised that there was so much pus coming out.
"They would have felt a little bit of pressure but not much pain and the treatment took around 20 minutes.
"This was the first case that I have seen this large amount of puss.
"We needed to cut the nail back to see where the puss can be released and at the same time I removed as much of the fungus as possible. But it healed very well."
Robert Duff, podiatrist at Margaret Dabbs London, explained what people need to look out for to avoid developing a severe toenail infection.
He said: "Paronychia is caused by a bacterial infection around the nail which, if left untreated, can develop into an abscess, which it seems to have done in this case.
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"You should look out for redness around the nail, tenderness of skin surrounding the nail, detachment of the nail from nail bed and any changes in shape or colour.
"Those with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or an immune system impairment are more at risk.
"To avoid getting an infection like this, keep your hands and feet clean and avoid trauma from biting, picking or manicures/pedicures.
"If the case is mild, it can easily be treated with warm water soaks, but if it becomes chronic like this, see your local podiatrist."