How to heal an infected wound:
How many times have you found yourself facing an injury without knowing what to do? Here we'll show you how to heal an infected wound, step by step.
Distraction, haste, and fatigue are often the causes of minor accidents at home or outside. However, when we hurt ourselves, it is normal for wounds to become infected. If we leave them, the consequences can be negative for our health. Therefore, these infected wounds must be treated as soon as possible.
What are the risk factors for infection?
- Injured knee injury.
- In the event of an injury, if we do not remove the dirt quickly, the risk of infection increases.
A wound is more likely to become infected if:
- It is not cleaned or processed for the next 8 hours.
- This happens as a result of a puncture, for example with a nail or a piece of glass.
- Contains dirt or saliva.
- This is the result of a human or animal bite.
- It occurs in a person with diabetes, alcoholism, or with a activated immune system.
- It takes a long time to heal.
How do you know that the wound is infected?
If you are not sure if you have an infected wound, you can tell by any of these signs:
- Local or systemic fever, accompanied by persistent redness of the area, inflammation of the extremities and pain.
- Constant pain even with very light movements. In these extreme cases, one could feel palpitations.
- Pus secretion.
- No signs of healing.
- Bad smell and bad look.
- With these signals, we can be sure that the area is infected with bacteria and we need to treat it carefully before we see it getting worse.
Steps to take care of an infected wound:
The first stage:
First, we'll clean the wound with soap and water. It is normal to ache and hurt from the infection, but it helps to remove the remains of dirt and blood. It is best to clean the wound with gauze, as cotton can leave fiber residue. A good over-the-counter antiseptic is also helpful.
The second step:
Ideally, the wound should be covered with a sterile dressing. To do this, you need to wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the infection from getting worse. If the area has blisters or pus, it is best not to remove it to prevent the infection from spreading.
The third step:
Healing of an infected wound. Continuous monitoring of the injury may help it heal. Natural products such as aloe vera can help treat it and stop infection, thanks to the rejuvenating and healing properties of this plant.
The fourth step:
If it's been several days and you don't see an improvement, you should see your doctor because it could be a more complicated infection that requires antibiotics. They must be prescribed by a physician to avoid all the risks associated with self-medication.
Fifth step:
Examine the wound carefully to determine if it is red in appearance and if the area is hot and swollen. If it has these characteristics and hurts, it is likely an infection.
How to prevent wound infection:
In the event of an injury, it is best to take action as soon as it occurs so that you do not become infected. It is best to clean the area thoroughly with physiological saline to kill bacteria. Then the wound should be covered with gauze and a daily antiseptic should be applied. In this way, within a few days, the skin will heal.
