How to Treat an Infected Wound the Right Way
There are times when people meet unfortunate incidents and get deep cuts on their bodies. At first, these cuts may seem simple to handle. You may opt to clean it with lukewarm water and mild soap. But with time, they might seem ineffective causing the wound to become infected. If you think that the wound has become infected, then how to treat it using the emergency first-aid kit might be your first question.
What is An Infected Wound? How to Identify One?
When a person gets a cut on their body, the pathogenic organisms are likely to enter it causing tissue damage and inflammation. These organisms include germs, bacteria, and more.
The two major types of bacteria that cause infection include staphylococci and streptococci. Usually, it may be difficult to identify the difference between healthy and infected wounds which is why the symptoms are something to be looked out for. Some of the symptoms which you must check out include
- Redness around the wound
- A break in the wound
- Dark striations encircling the wound
- Warmness in the area
- Pain
- Fever
- Soft scab
- Pimple
- Swollen node
- Swelling
- Pus coming from the area and
- Blood oozing from the wound
Furthermore, there are certain risk factors associated with an infection which may increase its possibility. These may include health ailments like obesity, diabetes, and weak immunity, besides poor hygiene and environmental factors.
Also Read – What You Need to Know About Eye Care?
Who is at Greater Risk of a Wound Infection?
A wound infection may happen to anyone who is not careful with it. People sometimes have poor habits or live in environmental situations that may cause them to be in danger due to their wounds. But apart from this, there are few circumstances where an individual is always at a greater risk. These circumstances include
- When being bitten by any animal
- The wound may come from a rusty or dirty object
- Remains of a fragment of the object inside the wound that caused the injury.
- Possessing a deep, wide cut with a jagged edge
- Someone with skin problems already
- Being an elderly person.
Steps You Can Clean an Infected Wound
It may seem difficult if you are an inexperienced person to clean the infected wound. But by following the steps below, you can easily treat it at home offering relief.
● Clean the Tools
In the first step, you need to clean the tools present in the emergency first-aid kit. Make sure to sterilize the tips of the tweezers by using an alcohol swab or cotton wool dipped in alcohol.
● Clean Your Hands
Once done, you need to wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly. Alternatively, you can choose to use hand gloves as well. But make sure to sanitize well before touching the wound.
● Clean the Wound
In this step, you need to clean the wound by first rinsing it off with running water. Following this, you need to use soapy water to clean the skin or use an antibacterial wash.
● Check for Dirt
Once you have cleaned it, check it out closely for any kind of dirt and debris. In case you spot any, then use a tweezer to gently pull them out.
● Apply Ointment
Now you need to apply any antibiotic ointment to the wound to stop the spread of the illness and promote quick healing. For example, you can apply a thin layer of Neosporin or Bacitracin.
● Keep It Protected
You mustn’t keep the wound open. Rather you must keep the wound wet and protected by wrapping it up to avoid it from attracting any dirt.
● Change the Dressing
In addition to this, one must change the dressing at least once a day to avoid the wound getting worse. Also, make sure to watch for any signs of infection and report to a doctor if something like that happens.
Should You Call A Doctor?
There are times when you may have dealt with a wound infection earlier. It may seem easier to handle this one than it can be. But not every risk is worth to be taken. This is why instead of relying on the items in the first-aid box to treat the wound, you must call a doctor. To be precise, some situations when a doctor must be sought include
- The wound may intensify
- If the wound has been caused by an animal
- There is increased redness around the area
- If the wound is on the face.
- Fever or pus may begin to appear
- It may seem difficult to handle the pain
- The person may seem sick and nauseous
- It may seem important to consult with the doctor after watching it from up close.
What Must be Avoided When Treating Wound Infections?
There are certain things which people are unaware of and continue to do to treat wound infections. Little do they know that these would just worsen the problem even more.
It is essential to know that for an infected wound, one may choose to apply
over-the-counter antibacterial ointment even though it may not be needed.
Also, it is important not to use Hydrogen peroxide or apply alcohol in large amounts regardless of the condition of the wound. Simply because these products could interfere with the skin’s ability to heal and could cause it to become extremely dry.
Time to Choose the Best Supplies for Treating Infections
A wound infection can bring endless discomfort and pain to the person. It can be really difficult to treat infected wounds but with the right supplies- the task becomes easier. And to choose the right kind of equipment for your first-aid box, you can come to us at Med Guard.
We are the leading wholesalers and retailers of all kinds of medical supplies. From ready-made products from our in-house brands to the ones which come from famous brands – we have everything. Not only that, our team offers customer support around the clock. Also, our supplies are available at affordable prices and will be delivered to your doorstep timely.