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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Stabbed With A Pencil, Deep, Painful. Will It Get Infected?

Hi, i know this is not a big deal, or an emergency question, but while i was at school i was searching in my bag for a pemcil, and as i was rumaging i accidentally stabbed myself with a mechanical pencil lead, and it is deep, i tried trimming the nail as far as i could without it hurting too much, but it doesn't come out. Would i get infected by it, and can it grow out by itself with the nail and eventually fall out?
posted on Mon, 13 May 2013
Twitter Mon, 13 May 2013 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 14 May 2013 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic

It is possible that the presence of the pencil point would increase the risk of infection. The presence of any foreign body can result in an infection. Signs or symptoms of infection would be increasing pain, redness, increased warmth of the area, swelling and a discharge.

It would be best if you can visit your doctor for him or her to remove it under sterile conditions if any of these symptoms occur.
If you can you may want to visit before any evidence of infection to see if it can be easily removed under sterile conditions.

I hope this helps
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Stabbed With A Pencil, Deep, Painful. Will It Get Infected?

Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic It is possible that the presence of the pencil point would increase the risk of infection. The presence of any foreign body can result in an infection. Signs or symptoms of infection would be increasing pain, redness, increased warmth of the area, swelling and a discharge. It would be best if you can visit your doctor for him or her to remove it under sterile conditions if any of these symptoms occur. If you can you may want to visit before any evidence of infection to see if it can be easily removed under sterile conditions. I hope this helps