What are the symptoms of a wound infection?
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Wound infections occur when germs and bacteria get inside the wound and grow within the damaged skin. When a wound has become infected, you may experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, and redness. More severe infections can cause symptoms such as nausea, chills, and fever. If you have a wound that is becoming infected, it's important that you act fast to avoid any further damage. Warning signsWhile most wounds are able to be treated at home, and will heal nicely if properly taken care of, some wounds can become infected during at home treatment and worsen instead of heal. As the infection becomes worse, pain, redness, and swelling will increase with intensity. Additional warning signs that your wound has become infected include:
If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, or have noticed that your wound is not healing, contact your primary care provider to be seen. Stopping an infection early is key to having a wound that will heal. Treating woundsIf you have a deep, serious wound, you should seek attention from a medical provider. Deep or serious wounds may require a deep cleaning and sutures to heal properly and avoid infection. If your wound is major enough for medical attention, but minor enough to not require an ER visit, you can be receive walk-in care from one of the providers at Logansport Memorial Hospital's Express Medical Center, located at 3400 E Market St in Logansport, IN 46947. At-home treatmentIf you have a minor wound that can be treated at home, be sure to follow these steps to heal your wound and avoid infection.
Never leave a wound left untreatedWhether it be at home or by seeking medical attention. Never let an open wound go untreated. If you plan to let your wound "heal" on its own, it opens you up to risks of infection and a non-healing wound. Be sure to follow the above steps and keep an eye out on your wound. If you follow the steps of at-home treatment, and still see no progress after a few days, call your provider to be seen. Wound Care Center at Logansport Memorial HospitalThe Logansport Memorial Wound Care Center, managed by Healogics, Inc., provides specialized treatment for chronic or non-healing wounds, which are defined as sores or wounds that have not significantly improved from conventional treatments. When wounds persist, a specialized approach is required for healing. Get our Complete Guide to Wound Care » You might also like:
What are 4 signs that a wound has become infected?Signs that a wound is not healing properly and may be infected include feeling warm to the touch, swelling, discharge or pus, long lasting pain, or fever.
How do you tell if a wound is healing or infected?After the initial discharge of a bit of pus and blood, your wound should be clear. If the discharge continues through the wound healing process and begins to smell bad or have discoloration, it's probably a sign of infection.
What does it look like when a wound is infected?The surrounding area becomes red, and this area gets larger over time. The area surrounding the wound becomes swollen, tender to the touch, or painful. The wound weeps off-color or odorous fluid; this pus may be yellow, greenish, or cloudy. Red streaks spread out from the site of the wound.
When should I worry about wound infection?Call your healthcare provider at the first sign of infection, such as: Redness, warmth around the wound. Edges look like they are opening. Yellow, yellow-green, or foul-smelling drainage from a wound.
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