Infected Wounds
There is a belief that red streaks rising from a wound on the arm or leg up the skin are a symptom of blood poisoning. When these red bands reach the heart area, the patient dies.
In fact, these red bands are just a sign of infection of the lymphatic ducts, through which foreign substances are washed out of the wound. They do not rise above the local lymph nodes under the armpits or in the groin. Nevertheless, this is a sign of blood poisoning and medical advice is needed.
Blood poisoning, or septicemia( sepsis), means the ingress of bacteria into the bloodstream. Elevated temperature is a more reliable indicator that blood infection has occurred than red streaks. If the wound is not infected, the temperature is small. If the temperature has risen significantly, ask your doctor for help.
The infected wound usually begins to fester under the skin, causing swelling and pain. If a festering wound opens, pus flows out of it, which is good, because in this case the wound heals faster and better. Nevertheless, this is a sure sign that in the wound the infection and the child need a doctor's examination.
Wound healing
Once the wound has appeared, the body begins to release a yellowish serous fluid into the wound, which, when hardened, forms a crust. Sometimes serous fluid is taken for pus, which is more dense, has an unpleasant smell and is never released on the first day after getting injured.
For the wound to heal, the body must remove from it foreign bodies and substances and introduce new material. Thus, the edges of the wound become pink or even red, and the wound itself is warm to the touch. However, this does not mean that an infection has got into it.
In the process of cleansing the wound from foreign substances, the lymphatic system actively activates, which can cause pain in the lymph nodes and ducts. This also does not mean that the wound is infected.
Your actions
Keep the wound clean. If this is not possible, that is, the wound is in a place susceptible to easy contamination, tie it up. The bandage should be changed every day. If the child can control the cleanliness of the wound, leave it open.
3-4 times a day, rinse it with warm water to remove dirt and freshen up the crust on the wound. Often children like to rip it off, in this case it is necessary to make a dressing.
For the final healing of a wound on the face it will take 3-5 days. If the wound is on the chest or arms - 5-7 days, the wounds on the legs heal, usually in 7-9 days. Children's wounds heal faster than wounds in adults.
The doctor examines the wound and local lymph nodes, measures the temperature of the affected child. Probably, a blood test will be done and antibiotics prescribed.
If there is a suspicion of a bacterial infection, it is necessary to make tests.
If a pus accumulates in the wound, the doctor deflates it with a scalpel or needle. This procedure is not very painful and, as a rule, brings relief. In case of significant damage, hospitalization may sometimes be required.
Preventive measures for contaminated material
If contaminated material gets on the skin of personnel, treat it with 70% alcohol solution, wash with soap and water and re-disinfect with 70% alcohol solution. Do not rub!
If contaminated material enters the mucous membranes of the oropharynx and nose, they are immediately treated with 0.05% solution of potassium permanganate;for the treatment of the mucous eye apply a solution of potassium permanganate 1:10 000, the solution is prepared by extempore.
If you prick, cut your hands, wash your hands with gloves with running water and soap, remove gloves, squeeze blood out of the wound, wash your hands with soap and treat the wound with a 5% solution of iodine. Do not rub!
Prophylactic administration of thymidine( azidothymidine) 800 mg / day for 30 days, not later than 24 hours after the injection or cut. Laboratory examination of persons who are in an emergency situation is carried out after 3, 6 and 12 months.