The Five Signs Of Wound Infection

What is infection?

At its most basic, the definition of an infection is "a disease that is caused by microorganisms". The most common infections are caused by bacteria that enter your body at a wound site. Once in, these bacteria begin to multiply, invading the surrounding tissues and releasing harmful toxins.

The symptoms that we see in infections are not actually caused by the bacteria themselves. Rather, we see our body’s immune response to the bacteria that invaded our tissues. The damaged tissues send out a chemical signal that tells our body to begin the inflammatory process. This process is our body’s method of killing the invading bacteria, destroying damaged tissue, and getting us back to normal. 

Pain as a Sign of Infection

The first classic sign of an infection is pain, especially pain that increases when pressure is applied to the site. The body's process of fighting invading bacteria is not a gentle one. Your white blood cells release toxic chemicals and tissue-destroying enzymes in order to destroy foreign microorganisms and break down damaged tissues. As you might expect, the site of this battle can become very tender and sore. 

Redness as a Sign of Infection

Along with pain comes redness, seen on the surface of the skin. The white blood cells are carried to the infection site by your circulatory system. This means that your body responds to the damaged area’s call for help by increasing blood flow to the site. The vast majority of cells in your blood are red blood cells, so the redness that accompanies infection is simply a visible sign of extra red blood cells at the infection site. 

Swelling as a Sign of Infection

The third sign of infection is swelling caused by excess fluid buildup, also known as edema. The main cause of this swelling is damage to the capillary endothelium. Capillaries are the tiniest parts of your body’s circulatory system. They are the places where your blood cells actually interact with your body tissue. 

Extra fluid can become trapped at the infection site and this causes the area to swell.

As with pain, cold compresses can help to reduce swelling. It is also helpful to elevate the area, if possible, in order to promote drainage. This is especially useful when the infected site is on an extremity, such as your hand or foot.

Decreasing Infection Risk And Knowing When To Seek Help

Heat as a Warning Sign Pointing to Infection

One of the most alarming signs of infection is heat. An infected site can be very hot to the touch, feeling much like your forehead does when you have a fever. However, the extra heat is mainly caused by the increased blood flow to the site. Your blood is warm and when there is more of it in one place, that area will have a corresponding increase in temperature. Heat can also build up through the chemicals and enzymes that white blood cells release in order to fight pathogens and clear out damaged tissue.

Loss of Function When You Have an Infection

As one might expect, if you have an area that is painful, hot, red, and swollen, you probably find it difficult to use. A simple infection at a wound site on a thumb or toe can make it very hard to carry out daily activities as simple as picking up an object or walking. 

Decreasing Your Risk of Infection

When you suffer a cut or scrape, your first response should be taking steps to minimize the risk of infection. Bleeding does a good job of flushing pathogens and debris out of any small wound, but you can also clean the site by rinsing it with clean water or swabbing it with alcohol-free wipes.

You should also wash the surrounding area with soap and water, making sure you wipe away from the wound and use a clean gauze or pad with each wipe. Cover the wound with a light, sterile dressing, keep the site elevated, and avoid touching the area, especially with unwashed hands. 

You can also apply an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment, but make sure to do so only after the site has been cleaned.

When to Seek Medical Help for an Infection

Usually, your body will do a fantastic job of getting rid of an infection on its own. There are some times, though, when the inflammatory process is not enough and you will need to receive medical care. 

Wounds that do not show signs of healing after 48 hours can indicate an advanced infection that may need to be treated with antibiotics. Faint red trails on the skin that spread from the wound site are also warning signs of a serious infection. The signs of advanced infection can become systemic, leading to symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and chills. 

Eye wounds should always be treated by a doctor because of the risk of permanent vision deterioration or even blindness.