Is it normal for a wound to swell

Close alert. Informational Alert. Wound Infection. Is this your child's symptom? Signs of wound infection include pus, spreading redness, increased pain or swelling, and fever A break in the skin a wound shows signs of infection Includes infected cuts, scrapes, sutured wounds, puncture wounds and animal bites Most dirty wounds become infected 24 to 72 hours later Symptoms of Wound Infections Pus.

Pus or cloudy fluid is draining from the wound. A pimple or yellow crust has formed on the wound. Soft Scab. When we sleep horizontally in bed, the gravity stops pulling blood to the legs. This will naturally drain swollen legs during the night. Sometimes ankle exercise and leg elevation are not enough to decrease leg swelling.

Then we mechanically squeeze blood out of the legs with compression sleeves, stockings, wrappings or pumps. Numerous compression methods are available tailored to the degree of compression and the condition of the wounds. Unna boot, wrapping of the leg with medicated bandage, is a well-known example of a compression method that healed millions of leg wounds since it was developed more than one hundred years ago. Although Unna boot is quite effective, many patients need a different compression method for various reasons.

Certain blood pressure medications calcium channel blockers and pain killers such as Ibuprofen or Naprosen may also cause swelling. If your leg started swelling after taking new medications, you need to discuss it with your prescribing physicians.

Taking too much salt also can lead to swelling. Lastly, when excessive body water is the reason for swelling in cases such as congestive heart failure, a water pill will be necessary to remove body water. People can usually safely treat small wounds, such as minor cuts and scratches, at home. With proper care, most small wounds will gradually get better until they fully heal.

If a wound becomes infected, however, it can get worse instead of better. Any pain, redness, and swelling will typically increase in intensity. People with a mild infection of a small wound may be able to treat the wound at home. However, more severe wound infections require prompt medical attention, particularly those that occur along with other symptoms, such as fever, feeling unwell, or discharge and red streaks coming from the wound.

A person should wash the wound immediately to prevent infection. Cleaning and protecting a wound can reduce the risk of infection.

After sustaining a minor cut or scratch, a person should:. People with larger wounds or excessive bleeding will require medical treatment. A healthcare professional can treat the injury to prevent infection and other complications. People with animal bites or wounds from dirty or rusty objects may be at risk of tetanus and should also seek medical attention.

A healthcare professional can clean the wound and give the person a shot to protect against tetanus infection if necessary. Tetanus is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when certain bacteria enter the body and release toxins that affect the nerves.

The symptoms of tetanus can include painful muscle spasms, lockjaw, and fever. Cuts, grazes, and other breaks in the skin can become infected when bacteria enter the wound and begin to multiply.

The bacteria may come from the surrounding skin, the external environment, or the object that caused the injury.

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Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Stages of wound healing Healing time Poor wound healing Signs of infection When to see a doctor Takeaway A wound is a cut or opening in the skin. Stages of wound healing. How long does it take for a wound to heal?

Poor wound healing. Signs of infection. When to see a doctor. The bottom line. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.