Contents:
Medical Video: How to Treat Infected Wounds
1. Definition
What is a wound infection?
When you or your child has a wound in their body, you should pay attention to whether signs of infection appear in the area of the wound. Infected wounds must be given antibiotics to prevent them from getting worse. Dirty wounds will usually get infected around 24-72 hours after the wound occurs.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Infected wounds will usually change color to redness, swelling, pain, and suppuration. But you need to know that if the redness only occurs on the edge of the wound and is only 2-3 mm wide, this is normal, especially if your wound has just been stitched. You just need to make sure that the reddish area doesn't spread.
Pain and pain are also normal, pain and swelling are usually the most severe on the second day and after that it will decrease. If the infection spreads out from the area of the wound, the infection will spread following the lymph channels and cause a reddish line that is visible on the trowel. If the infection reaches the bloodstream which is also called blood poisoning, the body usually has a fever. The healing process can usually cause mild swelling and painful lymph nodes in the injured area.
2. How to handle
What should I do?
Use a compress soaked in warm salt water (2 teaspoons of salt per liter of water) for 15 minutes 3 times a day. Dry the area thoroughly after being compressed. Never soak stitches that are sewn because it will increase the risk of infection.
When do I have to see a doctor?
Contact your doctor immediately if:
- The wound is very painful
- Having high fever (more than 38 ° C).
- A red line appears in the injured area
- Wound infections occur in the face area.
Even if it's not as severe as the symptoms above, you still need to see a doctor if:
- There is pus in the wound, or there is pus flowing from the wound
- There are pimples starting to appear in stitches that are sewn
- The wound became more painful on the second day
- The redness of the skin begins to spread
- You feel your situation is getting worse
3. Prevention
Immediately clean the wound with soap and water for 5 to 10 minutes to remove dirt and bacteria. Soak stab wounds in warm soapy water for 15 minutes. Do this as soon as possible after the injury occurs because the longer you delay, the fewer benefits you can get from cleaning the wound. Apply an antibiotic ointment after you have cleaned the wound. Also, teach your child not to scratch or touch the wounds of insect bites, sores or irritated areas of the skin. Do not kiss open wounds because the wound will be contaminated by many germs from the mouth.
