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How to Know if You Should Visit Your Local Urgent Care for a Foreign Object Removal

You stepped on glass. You ran your hands across an unfinished piece of wood. You were cleaning the garage, and now you have a metal fragment stuck in your hand. It happens, and while most splinters can be safely removed from home, there are occasions when medical care is a must.

Visit your local urgent care is you have a larger or deeper splinter that is too painful or difficult to remove or has broken apart. Urgent care professionals are skilled in the removal of foreign objects. They can also help you avoid complications like inflammation, infection or even a toxic reaction.

Common foreign objects

There are many ways foreign objects can enter the body, however most occurrences result from accidents. Nearly 80 percent of cases requiring foreign object removal occur in children. Common foreign objects include:

  • Wood splinters
  • Nails
  • Buttons
  • Glass
  • Coins
  • Toothpicks
  • Batteries
  • Small toys
  • Bones
  • Pins

Signs of infection

Seek immediate urgent care if you notice one or more of the following symptoms at or near the affected area:

  • Discharge (pus)
  • Increased pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Red streaking

Diagnosing and treating foreign objects in the body

The skilled physicians at Coastal Urgent Care of Baton Rouge will examine your affected area and evaluate your symptoms to isolate the type and location of the foreign object. Depending on the size and location of the object, the removal process can vary. Tweezers, suction, irrigation or soft rubber catheters may be used during the removal process.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a stubborn splinter or other foreign body in or on your skin, visit Coastal Urgent Care to get help with foreign object removal. We can help you remove it safely and protect you from complications. We’re open from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily for immediate, walk-in treatment.