Mary - Peg sites are infamous for getting irritated. The tube is basically preventing a serious puncture wound from healing completely. The constant movement of the tube in the site from breathing, coughing and sneezing are all keeping it tender and vulnerable. Sometimes yeast infections will start on the skin around the site and can be painful. Lowered resistance from treatment can let all kinds of infections get started at any vulnerable site on the body.

Those of us who live with our Pegs have learned to be really watchful and cautious of infection. There are anitbiotic creams that can soothe the skin around the site and help prevent infections, there are many oral antibiotics that can help get an infection stopped and quieted. And sometimes, the site is just angry looking and sore.

Don't underestimate how quickly a Peg site infection can spread. Lowered resistance and weakness after treatment makes him a target for flash infections. Red streaks on the skin near the site, swelling, excessive redness, discharge from the margins of the opening, and fever are all serious indicators and deserve immediate professional attention. When in doubt - go see your doc. Let us know how he is doing. And let us know how YOU are doing too. Be strong. Tom