Infant Keeps Touching Tongue And Has Thick Yellowish Nail On Foot. Should I Be Worried?

Posted on Thu, 14 Feb 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 Answered on

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi my 22 month baby keeps on touching her tongue and tries to get something of it ? I XXXXXXX t understand what s going on? And also another question I noticed on one of her foot nails there s a thick yellowish nail and the other nails are ok?

Answered by Dr. E Venkata Ramana (21 minutes later)

Hi XXXXXXX,
Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic,
In early child hood, the children will explore everything in relation to their oral cavity and tongue.
They assess the toys, sizes, and consistency by keeping fingers and hands into the mouth and manipulating with the tongue.
This may be the cause in your child to touch the tongue and trying to get something.
The thick yellow nail may be due to an injury in the past or an underlying fungal infection or due to repeated trauma.
In your next visit with your Pediatrician, show this yellow nail so that he will examine and tell the exact problem and advise the proper treatment if required.
Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar