How to treat a festering wound?

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Vu Huu Thang - Resuscitation - Emergency Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.

The wound is festering, swelling and exuding fluid are typical signs that the wound is at risk of infection and necrosis. Therefore, when you see an open wound with these signs, you need to treat it quickly and accurately according to the instructions of the doctor.

Normally, when there is an injury, the body will have a self-healing mechanism. The body's own wound healing process is a complex sequence, initially inflammation, then proliferation (collagen fibers begin to grow inside the wound to help the wound close quickly) and then the healing phase. (scarring) the body creates more collagen to strengthen and restructure the wound.
However, if the wound is not cleaned and handled carefully, it can become infected within 24-72 hours after the injury. Infected wounds, with prompt medical treatment, do not leave dangerous sequelae but can leave scars that are very unsightly.

Swollen and pus-filled wounds are the two most common signs of an infected wound. In addition, wound infection also has many typical signs such as:
Swollen wound: A sign that often appears when the patient is newly injured. If the wound becomes infected, there is usually swelling 4-6 days later. The red area is about 2-3mm around the wound or it may spread. Purulent wound: This is the most obvious sign of an infected wound. The wound will ooze pus-colored, foul-smelling fluid and pus appears 3-4 days after the injury. Increasing pain: If the wound becomes infected, there will be signs of increasing pain over time. Fever: Depending on the severity of the injury, the patient may or may not have a high fever. If the wound is seriously infected, the patient has signs of high fever all over the body, fever in the afternoon, fatigue, etc.

Depending on the severity of the injury, the location of the wound, and the area affected, the injured person will have different treatment options. In addition, the patient's health and injury time are also two factors affecting the wound treatment process. If the wound has severe pus, the patient should go to a medical facility for examination.
The following are instructions for treating infected festering wounds:
Wash the wound: When the wound is infected, you should use physiological saline or an antiseptic solution (Betadine, Povidone, ...) to sponge. When washing, you can cut open part of the wound to clean it. Remove bacteria and necrotic tissue: You need to remove the pus, bacteria, and necrotic tissue to eliminate the cause of the infection and prevent the infection from spreading. The method is to remove the necrotic part (or surgery as prescribed by the doctor) if the necrosis is too large and too deep. Use antibiotics: People with festering wounds can use antibiotic gels applied directly to the wound or take antibiotics if the infection is severe. However, when taking anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, you need to absolutely follow your doctor's instructions. Wound dressing: For light wounds, you don't need to bandage it, just use Nacurgo spray wound dressing to create a Polyesteramide biofilm to cover the wound, help the wound heal quickly or use Urgo bandages or thin gauze Cover the wound, avoid rubbing. With the incision, during the hospital stay, the patient will be changed and removed by the medical staff. When discharged home, the patient can leave the incision open and clean but still need to prevent infection by using Polyesteramide biofilm. If the wound is more severe, the patient should use Nacurgo spray on the wound before wrapping the bandage to help the wound heal;

After treating the festering wound, you need to avoid vigorous exercise in the area with the wound, increase nutrition to help the wound heal. Note, take the patient to a medical facility immediately if the following signs are present:
The wound is very painful. The patient has a high fever of unknown cause Occurrence of persistent red streaks in the wound Infection on the surface of the wound. Face of the wound Very weak patient To prevent the risk of wound festering, infection, immediately after the injury, within 10 minutes you need to wash the wound with clean water and non-irritating soap (helps remove dust) dirt and bacteria). Follow the steps above to avoid more dangerous complications.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical examination address, with a team of qualified doctors, many years of experience and a system of modern equipment and machinery. Therefore, when there are any health problems, customers can go to the hospital for examination and timely treatment.