An infected cut can cause you a great deal of trouble, and therefore, it is essential to take care of it in the initial stages itself. The treatment can be done at home when you start noticing indications of an infection.
You may think that a tiny little cut can’t do you much harm, but you never know. Just a little negligence in caring for the small cut can lead to the development of an infection, which can cause you more trouble than you can ever imagine. You need to be particularly careful about deep cuts, as they are more prone to getting infected due to damage and exposure of the inner layers of the skin. It is true that the human skin has the ability to heal on its own, but this may not be true in the case of all types of injuries. Most of us take it for granted that the cut will heal on its own and ignore it completely. This is a major reason why even minor cuts may develop an infection.
Symptoms
When you get a cut, it should not pain for more than a few hours, after which it subsides and returns only when the area is pressed or scratched. A cut that is infected will appear red and swollen, and the area around it will be warm or sometimes even hot. Red streaks can be noticed on the skin surrounding the cut, and the skin here will also be tender to touch. If you see pus oozing out from the cut along with the other mentioned symptoms, you can be sure that the cut is indeed, infected. Other symptoms include high fever, swelling of the skin and itchiness around the cut, boils or blisters around the cut, etc.
Treatment
Cellulitis can be caused due to bacteria that gets accumulated at the site of the cut. Therefore, the first step that needs to be taken is to clean the wound following basic first aid procedures. You need to use an antiseptic solution for this purpose. Pour some of the solution onto a clean cotton swab and gently clean the cut. Then, apply an antibiotic ointment on the cut and bandage it up, so that it is protected from dust and germs that can worsen the infection. It will also protect the wound from coming in contact with clothes or other materials that can cause further irritation.
If the infection around the cut doesn’t seem to heal even after applying antiseptic solution and antibiotic ointment, immediately visit a qualified doctor. Depending upon the location of the infected cut on your body, your doctor may recommend you oral antibiotics. Augmentin, Augmentin-Duo and Keflex are the common antibiotics that they recommend.
Once the cut starts healing, you will notice that scabs form around and over it. Do not pick on the scabs as this can lead to the cut getting infected again. Allow it to fall off on its own, so that the cut heals completely. If you see no improvement in the infected cut within two days, consult a doctor for treatment without any delay.
Prevention
In general, you must regularly check your feet and legs for cuts and if they find one, they must immediately treat the wound. Cut your nails on a regular basis and keep them clean. Thoroughly keep your skin clean and moisturized. If you feel that you continuously get cuts on a specific part of the body, immediately visit a doctor.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
