How do you tell if a leg cut is infected?
How do you tell if a leg cut is infected?
How do you tell if a leg cut is infected?
Signs a wound has become infected include:
- swelling, redness and increasing pain in the affected area.
- pus forming in or around the wound.
- feeling generally unwell.
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C or above.
- swollen glands under your chin or in your neck, armpits or groin.
At what point is a wound a serious wound?
When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or your local emergency number if: The bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped (for example, after 10 minutes of pressure). The person cannot feel the injured area, or it doesn’t work right.
What happens if a wound is left open?
If the cut stays open while healing, your scar may be larger than if the cut was closed. But you can get treatment later to make the scar smaller. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
Why would a wound be left open?
However, some wounds may be left open to heal if there is a risk of infection or if there has been a significant tissue loss. Healing occurs through the growth of new tissue from the base of the wound upwards, a process described as ‘healing by secondary intention’.
Can a wound never heal?
A chronic wound is a wound that does not heal in an orderly set of stages and in a predictable amount of time or wounds that do not heal within three months are often considered chronic. Chronic wounds often remain in the inflammatory stage for too long and may never heal or may take years.
What is a wound that will not heal?
A skin wound that doesn’t heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound. Some of the many causes of chronic (ongoing) skin wounds can include trauma, burns, skin cancers, infection or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Wounds that take a long time to heal need special care.