Infected Cut Treatment

Knowledge of basic first aid is must for everyone as some of the most common household injuries are cuts. Timely treatment is extremely important especially when the cut is deep. This doesn't mean that we underestimate small cuts, they may be small but can be equally dangerous if they get infected. Before we begin with the infection symptoms, let us take a look at what we should do if we receive a cut wound.

The very first thing that a person should do to prevent an infected cut is cleaning the wound with soap and water. He should remove all foreign particles like stones and glass from the wound using a tweezer. The next thing to do is to apply an antiseptic on the wound and cover the cut with a band aid or a sterilized gauze. After this, one should keep an eye out for any symptoms.

Symptoms

The symptoms begin with a sight redness around the injured area. Although this symptom also means that the body is fighting back the infection, an increase in redness and swelling is the first sign of an infected wound. You will also notice a slight red streaking around the wound. Watch out for any signs of discharge like oozing of pus and blood. The blood that is discharged is usually darker, foul-smelling and contains pus in it. The skin around the infected wound will be painful and tender to touch. The scab formed on the cut may be moist yellow-green in color. You may also notice a swelling in your lymph nodes. Unbearable itching and boils around the wound also suggest an infection symptom. Proper awareness about wound care can help you prevent these symptoms at an early stage.

Treatment

To treat infected cuts, one must be aware of the depth of the cut as deep cuts may need stitches. Getting stitches will reduce the risk of catching an infection. The first step towards the treatment is to stop the excessive bleeding, therefore change the dressing and clean the wound using a good antiseptic and cover it with a sterilized gaze. Get a tetanus shot if you didn't get one in the past 3 years. If you were bitten by a dog or another animal, get a rabies shot.

If you are getting fever or chills, make sure that you inform your general physician. It is best to keep the cut clean and change the gauze or band aid if it gets wet. The aim is to keep the wound dry to quickly heal infected cuts. As a precaution against systemic infection, always check the wounds of children and elderly thoroughly before administering the treatment. People suffering from diabetes or immune system diseases should take extra care.

Infected cut treatment begins with cleaning of the wound and being aware about when one should visit the physician. If the bleeding cannot be stopped and stitches are needed, please visit the doctor as soon as possible. Remember the best treatment is the prevention of such cuts which lead to infection.