How can I tell if a wound is infected?

[okgo]

Got some nice road rash the other day and have been following the keep it moist with a second skin type thing as apparently it promoted better healing.

The skin is looking better, more pink etc now, but it does keep weeping... Also my leg hurts to stand on, which I would have thought it shouldn't after the initial pain? Or is this purely because I've not let it dry out?

[Marf]

Is it weeping pus(thick, yellow) or just blood(red obviously) and plasma(clear/pinkish tinge)?

If just blood and plasma it's likely to not be infected.

Throw some iodine on there if you're worried. Record the scream and post it on youtube when you do

[okgo]

Marf said:

Is it weeping pus(thick, yellow) or just blood(red obviously) and plasma(clear/pinkish tinge)?

If just blood and plasma it's likely to not be infected.

Throw some iodine on there if you're worried. Record the scream and post it on youtube when you do

Well its mostly clear, but today it seems to be a little more colourful and slightly more gunky.

I just keep reading so many opinions on the best way to let it heal. I think I am going to give it a good airing later to see how it looks when its dried up a bit.

[Marf]

If you're concerned just go to your local walk in centre

Perhaps pick up some germolene which is antiseptic and anaesthetic in the meantime

[The Nur]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxZQL_Is0mE&fea...

[Odie]

If it smells the wrong side of cheese then its infected.

[jenpot]

If you're keeping it moist it will go gunky. If you let it dry a scab will form.

[okgo]

jenpot said:

If you're keeping it moist it will go gunky. If you let it dry a scab will form.

And birds go tweet.

Many many places rreccomend keeping it moist for it to heal best

[mph1977]

' this thread is useless without pictures'


what are you dressing it with ...

as this can effect things - if you are putting duoderm or similar on it some of the gunk can be from the dressing itself as it absorbs wound exudate ...

I love duoderm as a dressing and it's great for road rash as it tends to pull the specks of grit that you can't get out even with scrubbing out to the surface ( and off with the dressing at dressing change)

[okgo]

Thanks all, I'll do a pic later.

Bit busy atm.

[shouldbworking]

From the photos you posted the other day a trip to the doctor would have been on the list for me anyway. Seen similar injuries take a long old time to heal.

[The_Doc]

okgo said:

jenpot said:

If you're keeping it moist it will go gunky. If you let it dry a scab will form.

And birds go tweet.

Many many places rreccomend keeping it moist for it to heal best

Dry leads to nature's dressing AKA a gold ol' scab. Mostly best for small wounds, or partial thickness grazes. Bugs don't grow so well in the dry

Wet, allows the wound to granulate (pink healing tissue) from the base and new skin to grow in from the edges. Big wounds and full thickness, and you should let a doctor supervise. Bugs can grow better in a bad wet environment.

Each method needed for a specific wound.

Will.
Surgeon.
I make wounds.

[dave_s13]

It could be colonised, critically colonised or infected. Or just inflamed.

If you feel ok in yourself then its likely not infected. If you feel at all ill/flu type symptoms then go see a doc.

I would suggest getting some savlon iodine spray and some dry dressings. Spray it and change dressing every other day and see how it goes.

1st person to see, if you need to, is your practice nurse. Not the gp.

[okgo]

Day I did it (Sunday)


And two from just now after a little tcp clean

[Marf]

Ouch :/

[mph1977]

looks nice and clean and granulating well on the basis of that picture

if you let that dry out and scab it'll itch like a bugger and you'll scratch it - which will make it bleed again ....

what are you dressing it with ?

[okgo]

It's called opsite flexigrid, like a second skin.

Do you think I should keep using that or let it dry now?

And yes, ouch.

[mph1977]

okgo said:

It's called opsite flexigrid, like a second skin.

Do you think I should keep using that or let it dry now?

And yes, ouch.

medical grade sticky backed plastic ! it's good stuff, hopefully a few days more and it'll start 'shrinking' as the skin regrows

[okgo]

What will shrink?

How often should I change the stuff? Should I clean it each time I change it?

Why does my leg still fecking hurt when I stand still on it, it's fine when cycling and walking!

[mph1977]

okgo said:

What will shrink?

How often should I change the stuff? Should I clean it each time I change it?

Why does my leg still fecking hurt when I stand still on it, it's fine when cycling and walking!

the actual wound itself will shrink as the new skin growth comes in from the sides

how often are you changing the dressing ? a gentle irrigation with clean water and a wipe with sterile gauze would not go amiss just to get any debris and gunk away from the wound bed

why does it hurt - you've got millions of exposed nerve endings there ...