Update on Bear's thumb

Bear's thumb is healing quite nicely. The nail is starting to grow in. Doctor says we won't really know how it will look permanently for about 8 months. The first nail that grows in will be kind of funny looking. We found out at his doctor's appointment yesterday that the infection was caused by group A strep. A couple of quick facts:

Group A streptococcus, or group A strep, is a bacterium commonly found in the throat and on the skin. Group A strep bacteria can cause a range of infections, from relatively mild sore throats and skin infections to life-threatening invasive disease.
Group A strep bacteria are spread by direct person-to-person contact.
Group A strep infections can usually be treated with antibiotics.
Two types of very serious group A strep infections are necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
To prevent group A strep infections: 1) wash hands thoroughly and often, 2) get a throat culture for a sore throat with fever, and 3) keep wounds clean and seek medical care for infected wounds with fever.

A couple of interesting things, the week that Bear got his infection and cellulitous in his hand, Gracie had a strep infection and I had strep throat. The doctor said it could be totally unrelated but I have a hard time believing that all three of us had a form of strep and it not be related. Also, group A strep lives commonly in the mouth, so most likely Bear got it from having his thumb in his mouth. Crazy that any of us our healthy at all with all the yucky stuff and everything that can go wrong with our bodies. So so grateful for my children's good health and especially for my Bear's great recovery.