PEDIATRIC FOOT PROBLEMS
Children's Foot Disorders
Walking Disorders
Often parents will notice that their new walker is either walking with their toes turned in, or out, are very flat-footed, or that they are very "bowlegged." Many walking problems that affect new walkers, toddlers, and even older children can be addressed with the use of a type of prescriptive insert placed in the child's shoe, which helps correct the child's walking pattern. Often, the child will outgrow these walking disturbances. However, some do not. It is best to have your child evaluated. Dr. Sheff will perform a thorough examination of your child, often including a gait exam. Dr. Sheff can also take a medical and family history of your child, which often can help predict the chances that your child will or will not outgrow their problem.
Warts
Warts (verrucae) are a common skin problem that affects children as well as adults. Often, children are more at risk for contracting warts on their feet, as the wart virus is caught through contact, and children are more likely to run around in their bare feet. The skin on the bottom of the foot is extremely thick, making it very difficult to treat warts that occur here. Old methods for treating warts often involved either surgical removal, freezing therapy, or application of topical acids. The problem with these treatments is that they can be very painful following the procedure and often require multiple visits. At Newport Family Foot Care, Dr. Sheff utilizes a technique for treating warts that is safe and has proven to be successful in treating warts in as little as one visit in more than 90% of children who receive this treatment. He uses a similar technique in adults that also has proven to be effective in as little as one treatment.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) are common among children for several reasons: Often the nails are trimmed improperly, as is often the case in the adolescent population who trim their own toenails, or more often do not trim the nail, but tear them - which is a predominant cause of this problem. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly is another cause. As your child grows, their shoes can become just tight enough to cause pressure on the nail edge. However, sometimes there is no direct cause of an ingrown nail other than the nail grows that way, either due to trauma to the toe or genetics. In either case, at Newport Family Foot Care, Dr. Sheff can treat the painful ingrown toenail here in our office and can discuss preventive steps that the parent can take to ensure that the problem does not occur again. If the problem seems to be recurrent, Dr. Sheff can also discuss a simple procedure performed in our office that can remove the ingrown portion of the nail permanently.
Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is a rare, but not unheard of condition in children. Although this is usually associated with the elderly, this is a type of skin infection that can occur at any age. There are many safe and effective FDA approved prescriptive medications (both topical & oral) that Dr. Sheff uses to help treat this annoying and sometimes painful infection.
Call 401-846-8050
today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jordan S. Sheff, D.P.M. at Newport Family Foot Care.
You can't have everything. Where would you put it?
- Steven Wright
