Mother’s urgent warning to ‘follow your instincts’ after being told the red line on her son’s foot was innocent: ‘He could have been dead’
- A mother has warned parents to watch out for red spots on their child’s body
- The lines are a sign of a deadly infection spreading to the lymph nodes
A mother has warned parents to watch out for “suspicious” red spots on their child’s body that could indicate something more ominous.
Her friends told her the boy was “perfectly healthy,” but she knew something was wrong and that mother’s intuition saved his life.
She explained that she found a red line running from her son’s toe to his ankle after he took off his sock in the afternoon.
So she rushed him to the doctor who diagnosed him with lymphangitis, a dangerous, fast-moving infection.
She admitted that she remembered having one after by Tiny Hearts Education about the disease and didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.
The lines are a sign of lymphangitis that can spread quickly and, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications, including skin infections, bacteria in the blood, sepsis, and abscesses.
Red lines are a sign of lymphangitis that can spread quickly and, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications, including skin infections, bacteria in the blood, sepsis, and abscesses
Lymphangitis is a sign that there is inflammation in the lymphatic vessels. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection,” Tiny Hearts shared in an Instagram post.
The red tracking lines start from the site of a bite, cut, scratch, or puncture wound and trace from the area to the nearest lymph node.
It can also be caused by viruses, bacterial infections, and infected surgical wounds.
They can be faint or very visible, are sensitive to the touch, and in some cases can cause blisters.
Other symptoms of lymphangitis include rapid heartbeat, swelling, fever, chills, and generally feeling unwell.
Tiny Hearts revealed that the red stripe starts at the infected area and “runs” up to the armpit or groin.
“It’s a sign that the infection is getting worse and you need medical attention and treatment, usually antibiotics,” they continued.
Parents are encouraged to draw a line around a suspicious mark with a skin-safe pen so that it can be easily determined if it is getting worse.
Lymphangitis is a sign that there is inflammation in the lymphatic vessels. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection
The post attracted hundreds of comments from parents who were grateful for the information, as well as those who shared similar experiences.
“When I saw a post about this, I saved our daughters’ lives a few weeks ago!” wrote a mother. “She had a sore on the top of her foot that became inflamed over a 24-hour period. We marked the area and then noticed the red streaks running quickly down her leg to her groin.”
She added, “I knew it wasn’t right. We took her to the emergency room and they diagnosed lymphangitis and cellulitis. She stayed in the hospital for five days on intravenous antibiotics.’
“This is very important to know for parents whose kids enjoy being outside,” another father wrote.
While another mom shared a light-hearted story about trying to keep an eye on a suspicious streak.
“I drew a line around my four-year-old’s rash to check if it was growing,” she wrote. “I came back five minutes later and he had colored it in with a purple highlighter.”