An open laceration on the leg and arm does not heal. Wound treatment

08.03.2020 -

Probably, every person knows what a wound is: at least once in a lifetime, but everyone received it. Fortunately, in most cases the case is limited to minor damage, which, nevertheless, gives a very clear idea of the subject of our article. Even a person who is not a surgeon or at least a physician by occupation must have not only theoretical knowledge of what a wound is, but also practical skills in the initial actions when it is received. In serious situations, before the arrival of qualified paramedics, they can save a life - not for you, but for someone who, thanks to competent measures, will live to see the arrival of an ambulance.

What is a wound from a medical point of view

Despite everyone's awareness, let's give some blurry ideas a clearer outline. If we give a more or less scientific definition of what a wound is, then we can say that it is a gaping, visible damage to the skin (often to deeper tissues). human body). It is accompanied by a number of symptoms. General ones include:

Bleeding varying degrees expressiveness.
Mandatory pain.
Visual observation of the source of blood flow.

Local or private are:

Acute anemia, that is, severe blood loss. It cannot be called a general symptom, since with minor injuries or quickly taken measures, it does not occur.
Shock. It also accompanies not all wounds. Accompanies mainly deep and / or extensive damage.
Infection - characteristic of individual or illiterately treated lesions.

Other, more rare, symptoms may also occur. Any open wound (except perhaps the most minor) can lead to extremely unpleasant consequences. Therefore, such injuries require increased attention and indispensable medical supervision.

Types of injuries by tissue disorders

The forthcoming wound treatment is fully determined by a number of its characteristics. The first of these is how much damage has affected inner shells lining the peritoneum, the membranes of the brain, any joint or pleura. Here are distinguished:

Penetrating wounds, in which the integrity of one of the mentioned membranes is broken.
Non-penetrating, touching only the skin and upper muscle layer.

The first type is more dangerous: an open wound of this type heals longer and requires integrated approach to treatment. Penetrating wounds with damage are considered the most severe internal organs- one or more.

Types of wounds by the presence of infection

A very important factor that largely determines the course of further treatment. Any wound - on the leg, arm, head or torso - can be classified into one of three groups:

Types of injuries by origin

The most extensive classification relates to the mechanism of obtaining a wound and the type of object that caused it.

Stab wound. Its inlet is small in diameter, but the wound channel is long, albeit narrow. It is usually applied with sharpening, a nail or an awl. It is considered the most dangerous due to the high probability of damage to the viscera and the development of infections due to poor access to oxygen.
Sliced, on the contrary, is shallow, with a rather large entrance. Application tool - knife or razor. If large vessels and viscera are not affected, such wounds heal faster than others.
Chopped is applied with sharp and heavy objects like an ax. The injuries are extensive, severe, often accompanied by bone fractures and fragmentation.
Very difficult to treat laceration caused by sliding over the body of an uneven blade with simultaneous pressure. May be accompanied by partial loss of cover and underlying tissues.
have a number of features caused by the type of weapon (shot, bullet, fragment) and the degree of damage. The lightest are tangents, in which the bullet does not get inside, but only rips off the surface tissue layer. To the most severe - blind, in which the bullet remains inside the body.

Key to successful recovery

The main treatment for a wound more serious than a scratch will be prescribed by a doctor. However, in order for it not to drag on for too long, primary measures must be taken. These include:

Immediate If the wound is on the leg or arm, a tourniquet is applied; if there is a pressure bandage on the body or head.
Aseptic dressing, which will block the access of infection to open tissues.
Immobilization of the affected part of the body: fixation of the limb pressed to the body, if the wound is on the arm, the imposition of a splint on the legs, etc.
Anesthesia (if possible). It will prevent the occurrence of shock, which often ends in cardiac arrest, especially in the elderly.

If all these measures are taken, even minimally, in the future, the treatment of the wound will be much more successful.

Why Wounds Don't Heal

However, there are often cases when forecasts about which were quite optimistic. In most cases, this is due to objective reasons, including:

Diabetes. In people suffering from this disease, even small scratches do not heal well. This is due to the fact that a high sugar content gradually destroys capillaries, which impairs blood circulation in the limbs and tissues, the situation with their nutrition becomes more complicated, and it becomes more difficult for them to regenerate.
Obesity can be considered a special case of the previous case. The abundance of the fat layer makes it difficult for the damaged tissues to receive nutrition, which is why their recovery is significantly delayed.
Anemia is a continuation of the same theme. "Weak" blood is not able to sufficiently nourish the tissues essential substances. This also includes the general weakening of the body, including - and caused by all sorts of diets.
Skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis different origin and psoriasis prevent the rapid healing of wounds.

Immunodeficiency and cancer can be taken out as a separate item. Here, wound treatment should be carried out by the efforts of doctors of various specializations.

How to speed up healing

In order to prevent a situation in which you have to find out why the wound does not heal, in most cases it is enough to zealously follow the primitive rules of hygiene.

Change dressings regularly (at least 2 times a day).
Periodically disinfect the skin around the injury (as directed by the physician).
Vigilantly monitor the sterility of the instruments used.
Properly choose (taking into account the recommendations of the doctor!) Wound healing drugs.

Features of lacerations

Especially a lot of trouble and anxiety delivers any lacerated wound. It heals badly, certainly requires medical intervention and a long time. The main problem of their treatment is disfiguring scars that remain for life. Therefore, if the wound is large and in a prominent place, conservative method(overgrowth by secondary intention) prefer surgical. When using it, torn edges under anesthesia or anesthesia are excised before healthy, intact tissues. Next, a suture is applied, close to cosmetic; at the same time, the lacerated wound heals many times faster, and the scars remain almost invisible - provided that you do everything as the surgeon ordered, do not be self-willed and show patience, even when experiencing nervous tension.

Pharmaceutical care: treatment of microtraumas (cuts, abrasions, scratches)

I. A. Zupanets, N. V. Bezdetko, National Pharmaceutical Academy of Ukraine

Life is full of such small unpleasant "surprises" as cuts, minor injuries, falls, accompanied by bruises, scratches and abrasions. Knowing clearly what should be done in each specific situation, you can prevent serious consequences for injuries and cuts.

As a rule, for minor injuries, there is no need to seek medical attention. Minor cuts and scratches can be treated on their own, with the help of medicines from " home first aid kit". The task of the pharmacist is to give competent advice to the person who applied to the pharmacy, recommend the necessary drugs and sometimes provide first aid. The pharmacist must determine how serious the damage is and, if necessary, recommend that the pharmacy visitor consult a doctor.

Microtrauma: cuts, abrasions, scratches

A cut- through damage to all layers of the skin, which in some cases may be accompanied by damage to the underlying tissues.

Scratch- damage to the epidermis (surface layer of the skin), limited in area and having, as a rule, a linear shape.

Abrasion- a defect in the surface layers of the skin that is more significant in area.

Causes of cuts, abrasions and scratches

Most common cause cuts, abrasions and scratches is the inattentive handling of cutting or stabbing objects at home and during work. In addition, cuts can occur as a result of trauma, manifestations of aggression.

Scratches can be the result of careless handling of pets, as a result of scratching.

Sometimes wounds are caused by falls on broken glass or splintered wood. In such cases, a piece of foreign material (glass, wood, or stone) may remain in the wound. If the foreign body cannot be easily removed from the wound, a doctor should be consulted for examination. An x-ray may be required to detect a foreign object and decide whether to remove it. If the wound does not heal for a long time, and redness, pain and fluid secretion appear around it, it is likely that there may be a foreign body in it - a chip or a fragment.

Cuts, abrasions and scrapes are part and parcel of a healthy, inquisitive childhood. Even the most attentive parents or caregivers cannot guarantee that the child they care for will grow up without falls, bruises and injuries. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that everyone who stays with the child can provide first aid.

A special place is occupied by facial injuries in children. It can be a bruise, abrasion, scratch, straight linear break on the forehead, a laceration on the chin, or a deep tear in the lower lip. There may be other injuries. Since facial wounds often leave scars for life, it is important that children with any deep wounds are seen by a doctor in a timely manner for appropriate treatment. With facial injuries, it depends on the correct application of a bandage and competent treatment of the wound whether the scar remains noticeable or minimal after a cut on the face.

"Threatening" symptoms with cuts, requiring mandatory medical attention

In case of injury, be sure to take first aid measures. However, this is not always enough. Certain situations required to see a doctor. This is necessary if:

bleeding is bright red and pulsating - an artery may be damaged;
severe bleeding, accompanied by a large loss of blood;
a cut or scratch on the face or any other place where it is desirable to minimize the possibility of scarring;
a cut on the hand or wrists - there is a danger of damage to the nerves and tendons;
development of signs of inflammation - red stripes, redness extending to more than a finger around the wound; swelling around the wound, temperature;
a wound accompanied by fever;
the wound is deep, you can "look deep inside" - in this case, stitches should be applied;
a contaminated wound in a patient vaccinated against tetanus more than 5 years ago;
soil with an admixture of manure getting into the wound - a high probability of infection with tetanus;
a wound that cannot be properly cleaned, washed out of it all the dirt;
long-term non-healing wound copious excretion detachable - perhaps a piece of foreign material remained in the wound;
a wound accompanied by nausea and vomiting, especially with head injuries in children.

Do not let the child touch the wound - otherwise there is a risk of infection or even more tissue damage.
Except for very minor wounds, cuts to the head in children require medical attention.
Any cut on a child's face deserves the attention of a doctor.
Any cut longer than 2 cm deserves the attention of a doctor - stitches may be required.
A cut, the edges of which diverge widely during movements (on the joints, etc.), deserves the attention of a doctor.
Young children often have cuts on the inside of the lip or in the mouth. If the injury is located on back wall throat or soft palate(in the back of the mouth), if the wound was caused by a sharp object (pencil or stick) or if the bleeding does not stop within 10-15 minutes, seek immediate medical attention.

The generally accepted methods of first aid (self-help) for cuts and abrasions are:

washing the wound;
stop bleeding;
the imposition of a sterile bandage (for bleeding - pressing);
the use of an antiseptic.

If necessary, it is possible to apply a tourniquet, suture the wound by a surgeon, administer tetanus toxoid, and prescribe antibiotics.

Washing the wound. The best treatment for minor cuts and scrapes is rinsing clean water with soap using a cotton or gauze swab, a piece of clean cloth. Thorough rinsing is the key to preventing infection. Rinse the soap well with water. Washing should be repeated once a day until the cut is completely healed.

A heavily contaminated wound is well washed with hydrogen peroxide.

Scratches can be washed with both water and antiseptic lotion.

Applying a sterile dressing. After drying the cut with a clean cotton or gauze swab, apply a dry sterile bandage to keep the cut clean until it heals completely. Before applying a bandage, make sure that the edges of the cut are clean, even and easily converge, after which the edges of the cut are brought together, apply a bandage or seal the cut with a special plaster. In case of deep wounds, when applying a bandage or patch, the edges should not be brought together too tightly, as this can create conditions for the development of anaerobic pathogens.

If small child a cut near the mouth, it is better not to cover it with a bandage or adhesive plaster, since saliva and food will collect on the edges of the bandage (adhesive plaster).

A wound heals better and is less likely to get infected if it is bandaged as infrequently as possible. If the bandage is loose or dirty, you can put a new layer of bandages on top of the old one.

An abrasion will heal best if left open. However, if the skin is damaged in a significant area, a bandage can be applied. Wash the wound and leave it open until a crust forms. If you bandage it right away, the bandage will stick and, removing it, you will peel off the dried crust.

Although an open abrasion heals faster, if the child is going to play in the playground, close any open wound(even an abrasion or scratch) with a loose bandage. When the child comes home, remove the bandage.

Bandaging a scratch is only necessary when it is necessary to stop the bleeding - an open scratch usually heals faster.

Stop bleeding. The fastest way stop the bleeding - apply direct pressure. You should press the bandage tightly against the wound and press it hard with your hand, and if necessary, hold it for 15 minutes. This will stop any bleeding except arterial. To reduce bleeding, it is advisable to elevate the injured part of the body.

Since the head has a huge number of blood vessels, cuts to the head - even small ones - usually bleed profusely and may require medical attention.

If blood seeps through the first bandage, a second, pressure bandage must be applied. New bandages should be added on top of the old ones, because if you remove the bandage, you can damage the already formed clot of coagulated blood.

When the bleeding has stopped or slowed down, it is supposed to tie the wound tightly with a cloth or elastic bandage so that pressure is applied to it, but the circulation is not completely disturbed. Bandages should fit comfortably on the injured part of the body, then they will be useful. Do not stick a band-aid around your arm or leg (to make a ring) because this can interfere with normal blood circulation. If the cut is on your hand or foot, you can check circulation by pressing down on your fingernail or toenail: the nail will turn white, and when you release it, it will turn pink again. If necessary, loosen the bandage.

For minor injuries, the tourniquet is not used. For everyday cuts and scratches, many first aid methods have been developed. A tourniquet is an extreme and dangerous measure, as it can lead to pronounced violation blood supply to the injured limb and, as a result, do more harm than good.

If after 15 minutes the bleeding has not stopped, you should consult a doctor!

The use of an antiseptic. Antiseptic preparations are used to prevent infection. Many of them, in addition to the antiseptic effect, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and also contribute to the healing process.

Antiseptic preparations are used in various dosage forms. It could be water alcohol solutions or ointments.

Aqueous solutions are used for washing wounds, soaking cotton and gauze swabs when applied to the wound surface. They do not have an irritating effect, do not cause a burning sensation, therefore they are preferred for use in children.

Solutions containing ethyl alcohol, when injected deep into the wound, can cause tissue necrosis, preventing further healing. Alcohol solutions treat the skin around the wound, the edges of the wound, as well as superficial microtraumas. When treating the wound surface with alcohol solutions, a local irritating effect is possible, which is manifested by a pronounced burning sensation, redness of the skin.

Ointments are applied either directly to the surface of the damaged skin, or dressings are impregnated with ointments. With weeping microtraumas, ointments can interfere with healing. With prolonged application of a thick layer under the bandage, maceration of the wound edges may develop.

Comparative characteristics of over-the-counter drugs used to treat cuts, abrasions and scrapes

Active substance	Tradename	Medicines. forms	Pharmacological characteristics	Directions for use	Possible side effects
Wound healing drugs
Dexpanthenol	Bepanthen Bepanthen Plus Panthenol	Ointment, cream, lotion, aerosol	Provitamin B5. The action is similar to pantothenic acid. Promotes rapid regeneration of the skin and mucous membranes	It is applied to the affected areas of the skin once or several times a day. Especially indicated for dry skin	Possible allergic skin reactions
pharmaceutical camomile	Camizan Camillosan Chamomile flowers	Ointment, aerosol, decoction	It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent action. Stimulates regeneration processes	The ointment is applied to the affected areas of the skin once a day. The decoction is used in the form of lotions, rinses. Indicated for irritated skin
Sophora japonica	Sophora japonica	Tincture (alcohol solution)	It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hemostatic effect. Stimulates reparation	It is used in the form of irrigation and applications under bandages.	Possible increased sensitivity
Comfrey	Comfrey ointment	Ointment	Anti-inflammatory, hemostatic action. Stimulates reparation	It is used for long-term non-healing wounds. Apply several times a day, at night - under a bandage	Possible increased sensitivity
Calendula	Calendula ointment Calendoderm Calendula tincture	Ointment, tincture, (alcohol solution)	Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial action. Stimulates wound repair	For long-term non-healing wounds, ointment or swabs moistened with a solution are applied to the affected surface several times a day.	Possible increased sensitivity
Tea tree oil	Tea tree oil	100% oil solution	disinfectant action. Stimulates wound healing	Apply to the wound surface 2-3 times a day	Not installed.
Antiseptics
ethanol	Ethyl alcohol 40%	Solution	Antiseptic, bactericidal, local irritant action	It is used to treat skin, superficial abrasions. Should not be used on deep cuts.	Local irritant action
Polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine	Betadine, Vokadine, Iodizol, Iodobak, Povidone-iodine	Solution (water) ointment	Pronounced antiseptic action (bactericidal, fungicidal, sporicidal, selective antiviral, active against protozoa)	Do not use the drug simultaneously with disinfectants containing mercury, ointments, which include enzymes, or with benzoic acid; solution is incompatible with oxidizing agents, alkali salts and acidic substances	Local irritation. In cases of latent hyperthyroidism and other diseases thyroid gland can only be used under medical supervision
Iodine	Alcoholic iodine solution 5%, Ioddicerin*	Solution (alcohol)			Local irritation. Skin rashes at the site of application
Potassium permanganate	Potassium permanganate	Solution (water)	Antimicrobial, deodorizing, astringent, cauterizing action	Used once externally for washing wounds	May cause tissue irritation if used in high concentrations
Etonony	Ethonia ointment	Ointment	Shows bacteriostatic and bactericidal action, has a local anesthetic effect. Stimulates wound healing.	It is applied to the wound surface 1-2 times a day. Indicated for infected wounds	Skin allergic reactions
brilliant green	Brilliant green alcohol solution	Solution (alcohol)	Antiseptic action	The solution is applied to the surface of the skin, capturing healthy areas in case of violation of its integrity.	If the solution comes into contact with the mucous membrane, a burning sensation is possible
Boric acid	Alcoholic boric acid solution, Fukortsin*	Solution (alcohol) ointment	Antiseptic, fungicidal action	Boric acid preparations should not be applied to large areas of the body.	Possible acute or chronic intoxication in the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, headache, oliguria
Methylthioninium chloride	methylene blue alcohol solution	Solution (alcohol, water)	Antiseptic action	The solution is applied to the surface of the skin, capturing healthy areas in case of violation of its integrity.	Possible increased sensitivity
Hydrogen peroxide	Hydrogen peroxide solution	Solution, (water)	Antimicrobial, deodorizing action; locally - hemostatic	It is used for washing superficial microtraumas and not very deep cuts. Particularly indicated for contaminated wounds	When using concentrated solutions, burns are possible.
Sodium hypochlorite	Unicept 3	Solution for external use	Disinfectant, antiseptic, antimicrobial action	The wound is covered with napkins moistened with a solution. Avoid contact with eyes	Burning sensation at the site of application. allergic reactions
Ectericide	Ectericide	Solution (oil)	Antiseptic, highly effective against pyogenic flora	It is used 1-2 times a day in the form of washings or lotions. Especially indicated for suppuration of the wound. Low toxicity	Not installed
Nitrofural	Furacillin Lifusol*	rr water, alcohol solution ointment, aerosol*	Antiseptic, antimicrobial action.	The solution is used for washing wounds, especially indicated when the site of injury is contaminated. With suppuration of wounds, it is used in the form of lotions. The aerosol is sprayed from a distance of 10-15 cm from the skin surface 3 times with an interval of 20-30 seconds.	Hypersensitivity

Pharmaceutical care in the treatment of cuts, abrasions and scratches:

The generally accepted methods of treating microtraumas are washing the wound, applying an antiseptic, applying a sterile dressing.
For deep and contaminated cuts, people who have been vaccinated against tetanus for more than 5 years should go to the emergency room.
If a child has a deep cut, it is better to see a doctor.
For cuts on the face, even small ones, it is better to consult a doctor (scars on the face are too noticeable).
For cuts on the hands and wrists, it is better to consult a doctor (there is a risk of damage to the nerves and tendons).
If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, the edges of the cut are torn or cannot be brought together, you should consult a doctor.
In case of deep wounds, when applying a bandage or patch, the edges should not be brought together too tightly, as this can create conditions for the development of anaerobic pathogens.
If the cut requires stitching, you should not delay your visit to the doctor. If you wait more than eight hours, the doctor will not be able to sew up the wound, because bacteria may have already entered the wound and closing it can lead to infection.
If a child was scratched by an animal or the cause of the scratch was a dirty tool (rusty nail, garden shovel, etc.), it should be checked when the child was given tetanus toxoid vaccinations. Scratching rarely causes tetanus, but precautions must be taken.
Except for very minor wounds, cuts to the head in children require immediate medical attention.
In case of deep and contaminated cuts and punctures, it is necessary to immediately contact the emergency room.
For punctures and cuts with minor bleeding, do not stop it, as it helps cleanse the wound.
With long-term non-healing wounds, it is necessary to enrich the diet with vitamins C, group B, and especially A and E.
When using iodine preparations, an allergic reaction may develop.
Individuals with thyroid diseases can use iodine preparations only under the supervision of a physician.
Large areas of the skin should not be treated with a solution of boric acid - absorption through damaged skin and systemic toxic effect. The absorption of boric acid through the skin and mucous surfaces is especially high in children - acute or chronic poisoning is possible (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, impaired renal function).
When treating wounds, alcohol solutions of antiseptics should be applied to the skin, avoiding getting deep into the wound, especially with a deep cut.
All alcohol solutions of antiseptics have a local irritating effect due to ethyl alcohol Therefore, their application to the skin is accompanied by a burning sensation.
In children, it is preferable to use aqueous solutions of antiseptic substances.
Hydrogen peroxide solution should not be injected into deep wounds - air bubble embolism is possible.
Lifusol forms a film that lasts 6-8 days and protects the wound surface from contamination. If necessary, the film can be removed with alcohol or acetone.
Lifusol is highly flammable and should be kept out of the reach of children.

Literature

Derimedved L. V., Pertsev I. M., Zagoriy G. V., Gutorov S. A. Rational use of ointments // Pharmacist. - 2002. - No. 1. - P. 20–22.
Compendium 2001/2002 - drugs / Ed. V. N. Kovalenko, A. P. Viktorova.- K.: Morion, 2001.- 1564 p.
Wounds and wound infection (a guide for physicians) / Ed. M. I. Kuzina and B. M. Kostyuchenko.- M.: Medicine, 1990.- 592 p.
Modern over-the-counter drugs / Ed. A. L. Tregubova.- M.: Gamma-S. A.", 1999.- 362 p.
Theory and practice local treatment festering wounds(Problems drug therapy) / Ed. B. M. Dotsenko.- K.: Health, 1995.- 383 p.
Pharmaceutical guardianship / Ed. V. P. Chernykha, I. A. Zupantsa, V. A. Usenko.- H.: Golden Pages, 2002.- 264 p.
Pharmaceutical and biomedical aspects of drugs / Ed. I. M. Pertseva, I. A. Zupantsa.- H .: Publishing House of the NFA, 1999.- In 2 volumes.- T. 1.- 464 p., T.2.- 448 p.
Fedina E. A., Tatochenko V. K. Pharmacists and self-help. - M .: Classic-Consulting, 2000.- 116 p.

Beautiful skin on the hands - every year this phenomenon becomes more and more rare, because every year the list of negative factors that affect us becomes longer and longer. And it's not only high and low temperatures, but also hard water, numerous environmental negative factors, household chemicals, as well as, fungal diseases and the changes that occur in our body as we age. All this is imprinted on our hands, first of all, in the form of, among other things, cracks on the skin, on the folds or fingertips.

Causes of cracks in the hands and fingers

But cracks in the fingers can signal more serious problems, especially if these are not just cracks, but non-healing wounds that bleed, do not heal for a long time. Such skin lesions are very painful, they are constantly injured, grow to the size of a wound, which is constantly wet and rotting. Such cracks can occur for many reasons, and it depends on the cause how exactly this phenomenon should be dealt with.

The causes of the appearance of cracks in the hands can be different factors: usually these are either external features of the body, or external influences. Allergy can provoke the appearance of the disease from the inside, fungal infection, various types of endocrine disorders, hormonal disbalance in the body, beriberi or eczema. Wounds in this case occur mainly on the fingertips, between the fingers, on the palms.

It is a non-infectious disease, dermatosis, which has an autoimmune nature. With such a disease, dry raised spots above the skin are formed, red and flaky, which are called psoriatic plaques, which also cause cracks in the skin and on the fingers. Their nature is chronic inflammatory, and the treatment is consonant with the treatment of the underlying autoimmune disease.

Eczema is a chronic or acute inflammatory skin disease of an allergic nature. This disease is characterized by a rash of various kinds, as well as burning and itching. Eczema is prone to recurrence, often characterized by the appearance of painful cracks on the hands, fingers, and folds.

Damage can also occur under the influence external factors: under influence sun rays, with prolonged constant contact with water, as a result of exposure to chemical reagents, as well as due to a sharp drop in temperature and humidity. As a result of such adverse effects, the skin of the hands and feet begins to crack and dry, especially in the cold season.

Photo: wounds and lesions on the surface of the skin, on the tips, pads or folds of the fingers

Treatment

Treatment of cracks in the fingers depends on the reasons for which they appeared. If a we are talking about the impact of external factors, then you just need to limit contact with the source of irritation. For this purpose, wear gloves during cleaning and washing, and clean the skin with mild soap - baby, for example. Moisten your hands regularly after each contact with water or detergents- it will speed up the healing.

There is also a number folk methods treatment of cracks in the hands. Potato decoction is effective in such cases, which can be prepared by boiling and draining potatoes, adding starch and vegetable oil to the decoction.

Many cope with this problem with a mixture of milk, water, starch and glycerin. The solution is thoroughly stirred, and then brushes are kept in it for ten minutes. Even very deep wounds can be healed in this way.

You can lubricate your hands with cedar oil, and it is even better to wrap them with a cloth dipped in oil. It is desirable that the napkin was linen. Cucumber masks and oatmeal baths have a beneficial effect on the skin.

If cracks in the fingers and folds are associated with a certain disease, then it is not recommended to be treated on your own - it is better to consult a doctor. Fungal cracks are treated special ointments and drugs, and cracks of an allergic nature - antihistamines.

If cracks occur due to beriberi, then it is necessary to enrich your diet with foods containing vitamins A and E, that is olive oil, nuts, herbs, orange fruits and vegetables.

The causes of cracks in the hands can also be psoriasis, in which case the treatment should be fully agreed with the doctor and aimed at curing the underlying disease.

Widely used for the treatment of sores of various nature healing herbs. You can prepare a special mixture from the collection of chamomile, calendula, plantain and succession, pour boiling water and insist for eight hours. Then grind butter with honey, add infusion there and lubricate the sore spots with this mixture. A pleasant and useful home remedy is rose petal cream. It is necessary to grind the rose petals into gruel, mix with a spoonful of lard, let the ointment brew, and then lubricate the affected areas with it.

Prevention

The appearance of cracks in the hands can be prevented by following elementary rules prevention. First, it is important to wash your hands with mild water and mild soap. The skin should be wiped dry, it is especially important not to leave moisture between the fingers, because it is there that the skin is most often prone to such lesions. After washing, be sure to lubricate the skin with a moisturizing cream.

Do not use household chemicals without gloves, as their composition is aggressive towards skin health, and very often it is household chemicals that cause ulcers on the hands.

The skin of the hands very often deteriorates from hypothermia, because low temperatures due to the fact that the vessels narrow under the influence of cold, thus provoke insufficient nutrition of the skin, so keep your hands warm.

Those people whose skin is dry, prone to peeling, need to regularly do nourishing moisturizing baths weekly. Wheat germ oil, olive, almond or apricot oil is added to the baths, which enrich the skin with vitamin E.

Thanks

The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

General information

cut called integrity violation. skin carried out with a sharp object. Shallow wounds of this nature affect only the dermis and subcutaneous fat layer. For their treatment, most often do not require any special means. Deeper cuts are referred to as incised wounds. As a result of such damage, the integrity of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, as well as blood vessels, is violated. Such wounds can be dangerous, and the patient should definitely see a doctor.

The main factor that provokes the appearance of cuts is the careless use of sharp objects both at home and at work. Also, cuts can appear during injury, including during an attack.

Also, injuries of this type appear when falling on glass or untreated knotty logs, after which fragments of glass or wood chips can be found in the wound. Sometimes cleansing the wound is very difficult, then you need to see a doctor. In rare cases, even an x-ray has to be taken to detect fragments. It is prescribed if the wound long time does not tighten, the tissue turns red and exudate oozes from it.

Kinds

Cuts differ in the type of objects with which they are applied:

blunt objects that leave wounds with torn edges. Such wounds usually appear in the area of the bones ( on knees, fingers). The tissues around such wounds are very swollen and severely injured, they are harder to scar, since their edges are uneven,
sharp objects that leave cut wounds. Such wounds can be quite deep and affect not only the upper layers of tissues, but also deeper ones,
thin and sharp objects that leave puncture wounds,
combined injuries that remain after exposure to sharp and blunt objects.

What symptoms to look out for?

Most often, bleeding with a cut stops after 10 minutes without the use of any means. If it does not stop for 20 minutes or longer, and also if the wound was caused by a rusty, dirty object, if there is earth in the wound, pieces of glass, you must definitely see a doctor.

In addition, you need to visit a doctor if the anti-tetanus serum was introduced more than 5 years ago, and the injury was made by a rusty or dirty object.
If the cut is on the face, the wound is long or deep enough, if its edges do not close with a band-aid, a doctor's help is needed. Dangerous are deep wounds in the area of \u200b\u200bthe joints, on the chest, neck, face, palms. Also, you should definitely show the wounds to the doctor if the victim is a baby, if the tissue around the wound turns red, swells and hurts. These are signs of infection. Attention should be paid if tissue around the wound has lost sensitivity. If the blood does not stop, the victim has impaired motor skills of the limbs or fingers, or if he is in shock, you need to urgently call an ambulance.

Complications

injury to large veins and arteries,
cut infection ( the wound hurts, becomes covered with pus, turns red),
tetanus. This is a serious disease that affects the nervous system. It is incurable. The pathogen develops in deep wounds without access to oxygen. To prevent the development of the disease, tetanus toxoid is administered, which has been in effect for ten years.

Incised extensor tendon injury

The extensor tendons begin at the nail phalanges and end towards the middle of the forearm. It is through these tendons that impulses are transmitted from the muscles to the fingers for their extension. If in the upper part these tendons are rather thick and round, then near the nail phalanges they are flat bands.

These tendons from below are adjacent to the bone, and from above they are covered only by the skin. That is, it is not difficult to damage them. Even a small cut can cause injury. Often they break away from the place of attachment to the bone, while the skin may not even be torn. After the tendon is torn, the finger can no longer fully extend.

In case of cuts, the tendons are sutured surgically. Often, a tendon injury is combined with a bone injury, extensive soft tissue injuries. In such cases, treatment is complicated, prolonged and may not lead to an absolute cure. Sometimes you need a whole series surgical interventions to get a result.

Treatment and stop bleeding

Treatment of shallow and non-extensive cuts consists in the following activities that the victim or nearby people can do without the help of doctors:

wound cleansing,
blood stop,
sterile wound closure
antiseptic treatment.

Cleansing the wound done with soapy water. Washing should be done with a piece of cotton wool or a bandage. Rapid washing of the wound allows you to remove sources of infection and prevent wound suppuration. After lathering the wound, rinse thoroughly with clean water. This procedure should be done daily until the wound is completely scarred.
If the wound is very dirty, 3% hydrogen peroxide or an antiseptic solution can also be used.

The wound closes by applying a sterile dressing. Before that, it should be blotted with a clean cloth or bandage to dry after washing. Carefully examine the condition of the wound - it should be clean, the tissues are not torn, move the edges of the cut together. After that, a sterile bandage or napkin should be applied to the wound.
If a small child has a cut on the lips or chin, do not apply a bandage, as it will collect food and saliva.
The sterile dressing should not be changed frequently, only if the dressing is loose or dirty. But even in this case, you can not change the bandage, but only bandage it on top again with a clean bandage.

How to stop the bleeding?
The quickest way is to press down on the cut with a clean bandage or cloth. The bandage must be pressed tightly enough and held until the bleeding stops ( sometimes up to a quarter of an hour). This procedure is ineffective only if the arteries are affected. To make the blood flow less intensively, you need to raise the wounded limb up.

Head wounds almost always cause profuse bleeding, since there are a lot of blood vessels here, it is often necessary to call a doctor to stop the bleeding.

If blood appears through an already applied tight bandage, it should be bandaged even tighter with another piece of bandage. The first dressings should not be removed, as in this case, already clotted blood can be torn off and bleeding can resume.

When the blood is stopped, you need to bandage the affected area quite tightly, but at the same time do not completely pinch it - because this will stop the blood supply to the tissues. You don't need to put a Band-Aid around the limb, which can also interfere with blood flow. To understand how correctly the bandage is applied, you should press down on the nail on the bandaged limb. It first turns white, after which it should quickly return to its pink color. Otherwise, the bandage is too tight and should be loosened up a bit.

Without special need, you should not resort to a tourniquet, since with the help of this tool you can significantly impair blood circulation in the affected limb. Use a tourniquet only in case of urgent need.

Bleeding that doesn't stop after a quarter of an hour can be dangerous! You should call an ambulance or go to the doctor.

Wound treatment with antiseptics
This event is carried out to prevent infection of the wound. Most antiseptics suppress the inflammatory process, reduce the duration of scarring.

Antiseptics can be in the form of a solution in alcohol, water or in the form of a cream.

Aqueous solutions are used to treat wounds, as well as wetting swabs and wipes for sterile dressings. This treatment is completely painless and is often used to treat wounds in babies.

Solutions with alcohol can burn the edges of the affected tissues and lengthen the scarring process. Such preparations should be smeared around the cut. If the solution gets on the wound, it will pinch, the skin around the wound will turn red.

The ointment can be treated with both the wound itself and the napkin that is applied to it. which is imposed on her. If the wound is wet, the ointment may lengthen the scarring period. If the wound is treated abundantly with ointment and a tight bandage is applied to it, maceration (softening) of the edges is possible.
Cream "ARGOSULFAN®" promotes healing of abrasions and small wounds. Combination antibacterial component silver sulfathiazole and silver ions helps provide wide range antibacterial cream. You can apply the drug not only on wounds located in open areas of the body, but also under bandages. The tool has not only a wound healing, but also an antimicrobial effect, and in addition, it promotes wound healing without a rough scar.
There are contraindications. It is necessary to read the instructions or consult with a specialist.

What to do with a finger injury?

If your finger is cut in the kitchen and the wound bleeds heavily enough, you should not try to stop the bleeding by putting your finger under cold water. Such measures will provoke even more bleeding. It's best to just give a thumbs up.

Around the wound, the skin should be coated with iodine, and the surface of the wound itself should be treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide. It is forbidden to smear the wound with Vishnevsky ointment or ichthyol ointment, so popular among the masses. Next, you should put a tight bandage on your finger.
Here is a little secret: how to put it on your finger so that it is convenient for them to act, and so that the bandage does not move out. The usual bandaging of the finger most often only leads to the fact that the bandages slip off after a while. And sometimes they dry up to the wound, and then changing the dressing is painful and unpleasant. To prevent all these troubles, you should wrap your finger at the cut site with a ribbon of paper covering the entire phalanx. After that, you can wrap a bandage or stick a patch. Such a paper wrapper will protect the wound, move its edges and help heal faster.
This bandage is easier to remove because the paper will not stick to the wound. According to experienced people, it is best to use white stationery. Before applying it should be treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Ointment treatment

Dexpanthenol
It is produced in the form of ointment, spray, cream and lotion. Contains vitamin B5, quickly heals wounds, restores tissues, can be used to treat mucous membranes. Treat the affected area once a day.

Ointment with chamomile
Relieves inflammation, antiseptic, accelerates tissue repair. Wounds are treated once a day.

Comfrey ointment
Relieves inflammation, stops bleeding, accelerates tissue repair. It is prescribed if the cut does not heal for a long time. The affected surface is treated two or three times a day before going to bed, a bandage is made.

Ointment of calendula
Relieves inflammation, destroys microbes, accelerates tissue repair. It is very indicated for long-term non-scarring cuts. Processing is carried out several times a day.

Betadine
Produced in the form of an iodine solution and ointment. Strong antiseptic. May cause local skin irritation.

Ethonia ointment
It inhibits the development of pathogenic microbes, anesthetizes, accelerates scarring. Processing is carried out once or twice a day. Effective for purulent wounds.

Lifusol
Antiseptic, inhibits the development of microbes. It is prescribed for the treatment of wounds, including very contaminated ( washed first aqueous solution then apply ointment).

Special instructions for the use of certain drugs

If the cut does not scar for a long time, you should drink a course of vitamins of groups B, C, E and A,
Treatment of wounds with iodine can provoke individual intolerance,
People with impaired thyroid function should use iodine supplements only under the direction of a doctor,
Solutions of boric acid cannot be used to treat large surfaces of the body, as the drug is absorbed into the blood and poisoning may develop. It is very dangerous for kids. Signs of poisoning boric acid: nausea, rash, kidney failure, diarrhea,
Alcohol preparations should not be applied to the wound surface, using them only to lubricate the skin around the wound,
Since any alcohol preparations cause a burning sensation, it is undesirable to use them in the treatment of wounds in children,
Deep cuts should not be treated with hydrogen peroxide, as air bubbles are likely to clog vessels,
Lifusol ointment creates a thin protective film on the surface of the wound, which protects the wound from microbes. You can remove it by wiping the body with alcohol,
Lifusol is a combustible agent. In addition, you should not give a tube of ointment to babies.

Antibiotics

In order to prevent the development of pathogenic microflora in not very large cuts, most often only antibiotic ointments are enough. More effective are drugs containing neomycin, tetracycline, bacitracin, polymyxin sulfate, as well as combined drugs. Antibiotic treatment of an untreated and uncleaned wound within four hours after the injury helps reduce the likelihood of complications, relieves pain, and accelerates tissue regeneration. But it is desirable to process an already cleaned cut.

Antibiotics should not be used for too long, as this can create favorable conditions for the development of superinfections ( mycoses). In the event that the cut is quite extensive and even the use of an antibiotic for five days does not give a result, you should definitely visit a doctor.

Ointments containing an antibiotic:

synthomycin liniment,
levomekol,
methyluracil,
gentamicin ointment,
levosin.

What influences the rate of healing?

1. Poor supply of blood and oxygen to tissues adjacent to the wound. The more oxygen in the tissues, the more active phagocytes work in it - immune cells that absorb pathogenic organisms, blood vessels are restored faster, the state of the epithelium is normalized, the production of collagen is accelerated. Lack of oxygen occurs in people with diseases of the heart, lungs, blood vessels that have lost a large number of blood.

2. Body weight, age and diet of the patient. For the production of collagen fibers, proteins, minerals and vitamins, as well as carbohydrates are needed. So, vitamin A is needed for wound epithelialization, vitamin C helps to normalize the condition cell membranes and zinc accelerates cell regeneration. In older people with increased body weight, inflammatory processes take longer, collagen is slowly produced.

3. Pathogenic microbes. Microbes must immediately penetrate the wound. And only phagocytes can destroy them. If the victim has poor immunity, the wound is very dirty, fragments, dead tissues remain in it, then phagocytes will not be able to do their job. The production of recovery fibers worsens, scarring is inhibited, inflammation lasts longer. Microbes absorb oxygen needed by body tissues. The main dangers for wounds are pyogenic and fecal streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli.

4. Diabetes. In such patients, all cuts are scarred very hard and for a long time.

5. Taking certain medications. For example, in patients using glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants inhibit vascular repair, collagen production, and local immunity is worse.

How to get rid of scars?

Cut scars can disfigure any part of the body. But you can get rid of them. It should be borne in mind that the less time has passed since the injury, as well as the shallower the depth of the wound, the more effective will be the treatment of scars.
For the correct choice of the method of scar removal, you must first of all keep in mind the nature of the injury and its depth.

If the cut was completely shallow, you can use the microdermabrasion method - this is a type of gentle peeling that removes only the uppermost cells of the dermis. The skin is treated with a diamond "abrasive wheel" that exfoliates dead cells, speeding up recovery. The treatment does not cause discomfort. Sometimes you need to carry out several procedures. At the same time, between procedures, the skin looks normal, the body does not need to recover as after more severe procedures.

If the scars after cuts are deep enough, you should use chemical peeling. This is a very efficient procedure. The skin is affected by acids, phenol and retinol, which remove not only the upper, but also the deeper layers of the dermis, leveling it. After the procedure, skin regeneration takes about 7 days.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

In some cases, it is not enough to treat the wound on your own. A doctor should be called if:

blood is ejected from the wound in jerks, if the blood is scarlet, it is likely that a blood vessel has been cut,
blood flows profusely and does not stop,
the cut is in a prominent place and the scar on it is undesirable,
the hands are affected - there are important tendons and nerves,
in the presence of symptoms of inflammation - redness, covering the tissues more than 2 cm around the cut, swelling of the tissues,
increase in body temperature,
the wound is deep enough - in such cases it is necessary to suture,
the wound is dirty, and the last tetanus shot was more than five years old,
earth and animal feces got into the wound ( e.g. manure) - in such environments there is a lot of the causative agent of tetanus,
the wound does not heal long enough, exudate flows from it,
after injury, the victim vomits and vomits - this is in more regarding head injuries in children.

Help doctor

How can a doctor help with deep or dirty incised wounds?

clean the wound from dirt and splinters,
stitch up,
if nerves, tendons or blood vessels are damaged - send to the hospital,
prescribe antibiotics if the wound is infected,
give an injection against tetanus.

Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

Acute traumatic wound.
Depending on the type and circumstances of the accident, the so-called "traumatic wounds" vary greatly in the degree of tissue damage.

Ranging from shallow skin lesions to complex wounds that may involve tendons, muscles, nerve fibers, blood vessels, bones, or internal organs. Sometimes the skin remains intact, but it turns out to be damaged subcutaneous tissue and bones. This is called a "closed wound", as opposed to an "open wound".
A large wound or a small one, serious or not very serious - the more effective the first aid was, the more likely it is to be successfully cured.
There are two types of wound treatment, namely, preliminary and prescribed by a doctor. Pre-treatment of wounds includes all first aid measures. Depending on the severity of the wound, the prescribed or primary treatment wounds are performed by surgeons in clinics or in hospitals.
Depending on the nature of the wound received, the person providing first aid may be faced with a wide variety of situations, each of which requires an appropriate response. First aid for abrasions, scrapes, or cuts to the skin can sometimes take the form of prescribed treatment.

When treating wounds, it is advisable to follow the following rules and recommendations:

When providing first aid, if possible, seat or lay down the victim, while the affected part of the body should be at maximum rest.

To avoid possible infection or infection, do not touch the wounds and the skin around them with bare hands (use disposable gloves).

Once you have found a wound, it must be covered with a sterile drape and bandaged (for example, use a first aid kit) to protect the wound from dust and possible infection with germs. If you do not have a sterile dressing on hand, use an ordinary dry cloth, which, if possible, needs to be ironed (and thus disinfect the victim).

It is necessary to stop bleeding as soon as possible (see the section "Hemostasis").
AT emergency situations there is an unwritten rule: stopping bleeding is more important than avoiding infection!!!

When treating wounds, you should not at your own discretion use such medicines as powders, aerosols, or oils, as this can make it difficult to access wounds and also necessitate painful debridement.

If foreign bodies get into the wound, the doctor should remove them.
If a foreign body protrudes from the wound, it must be fixed before transporting the victim (see the "Foreign Bodies" section) with a bandage to the dressing.

Wounds must be received medical treatment during the first 6 hours.

Recommendation 2:
With the exception of minor scratches and abrasions on the skin and cuts, wounds should be examined and treated by a doctor.
The purpose of first aid is to prevent further entry of aggressive substances and microorganisms into the wound.

Abrasions and scratches on the skin.

Abrasions and scratches on the skin are formed when the skin rubs against a rough surface.
For example, this can happen when falling.

At the same time, the surface layers of the skin tissue are removed, while the smallest blood vessels, which are located in the papillary layer of the skin, are damaged. The result is pinpoint bleeding and exudation.

Large abrasions and scratches on the skin are accompanied by very painful sensations, as a large number of nerve endings are exposed. If pathogens enter the wound and infect it, wound healing can be difficult.

In general, abrasions and scratches on the skin heal fairly quickly and do not leave scars, as the subcutaneous tissue remains intact.

In the case of small and only slightly contaminated wounds, it is enough to wash them under tap water, perform an antiseptic treatment and apply a non-stick bandage.

In the case of more contaminated wounds, they must be washed more thoroughly.

Depending on the location and size of the wound, there are several ways to do this. For wounds on the hand, fingers or legs, taking antiseptic baths gives a good result. If you have abrasions or scrapes on your knee, elbow, or torso, we recommend that you carefully apply a damp gauze or cloth to the wound. After you have dried the wound, you can proceed to its antiseptic treatment.

Ordinary dressings usually stick to bleeding abrasions and scrapes on the skin. In this case, it is preferable to use dressings and plasters that will not stick to the wound. Such (atraumatic) dressings should be changed as daily as possible.

Modern wound dressings, better suited for first aid due to their hydroactive properties, form and maintain a moist environment on the wound surface. As a result, they actively contribute to the healing process. In this case, there is no need to change the patch every day. You save time and avoid pain.

In the case of large (palm-sized) tissue damage or heavily contaminated abrasions or scratches on the skin, you need to see a doctor who will remove residual dirt or foreign bodies from the wound and perform antiseptic treatment.

cuts

Cut of the phalanx of the finger.

At home, cuts most often occur as a result of careless handling of sharp objects such as knives or broken glass.

These cuts are characterized by smooth edges of the wound, without damage to adjacent skin areas and fairly heavy bleeding.

This often looks very dangerous, but as a result of bleeding from the wound, the remaining dirt is washed out and pathogens. Therefore, small wounds usually heal without any problems. Cuts with a knife that was previously used to cut meat pose a great threat, since a large number of pathogenic microorganisms accumulate on the knife.

Equally dangerous are deep cuts to the joints and fingers. In these cases, there is a risk of damage nerve fibers or tendons.

Treatment of small superficial cuts:
- Do not immediately stop the bleeding to wash away the remnants of dirt and pathogens.
- Perform antiseptic treatment of the wound.
- Apply a suitable bactericidal patch to the wound.
- Stop excessive bleeding with external pressure.
To do this, apply a folded gauze bandage or rolled gauze bandage to the wound and hold firmly for a while.

Treatment of larger and deeper cuts:
- Be sure to go to the doctor's office!
- Finger cuts that are accompanied by numbness and difficulty in moving should also be examined by a doctor. Cuts with a knife or other sharp objects that have previously cut meat also require a doctor's examination.
- With cuts to the face, it is also necessary to see a doctor to prevent the formation of scars.

As a rule, cuts are quite easy to treat. Often there is no need for stitches. Instead, the doctor uses special adhesive strips with which he pulls the wound together.

stab wounds

Puncture wounds may be caused by sharp glass and contain glass shards.

Stab wounds are caused by objects with sharp edges. The cause of the small stab wounds that we often encounter in Everyday life, usually are: nails, needles, scissors, knives or pieces of broken glass.

Sometimes the source of a stab wound remains in the wound itself.
It must be removed during first aid, or later during a visit to the doctor.

On the outside, stab wounds usually look fairly harmless, but they can be quite deep.

When receiving a stab wound, there is a risk of damage to nerve fibers and tendons, as well as internal organs. It may also be accompanied internal bleeding. There is also an increased risk of infection, even with minor puncture wounds, such as those caused by thorns or splinters, since pathogens enter the tissues along with the foreign body.

Remove small splinters stuck under the skin with tweezers. Then disinfect the wound and cover it with a plaster or sterile wound dressing.

Foreign bodies and splinters should not be removed by yourself unless you are able to determine how deep they have penetrated the skin. It can damage blood vessels and cause bleeding.

As a first aid measure, you can wrap the area of the wound with foreign bodies lodged in it with a clean cloth.
With the exception of minor splinters, for the treatment of other wounds, you should immediately consult a doctor.

You should see a doctor if you are unable to completely remove a splinter, or if you have tissue inflammation.
Since the remains foreign body can later be localized using x-rays, take pieces of this foreign body with you to show them to the doctor.

Crushed wounds, lacerations and gaping wounds.

Pulverized and gaping wounds are usually inflicted with blunt objects, and lacerations with non-standard sharp objects.

Gaping wounds usually form on parts of the body with a minimum distance from the skin to the bones, for example, on the head or tibia.

Crushed, lacerated and gaping wounds usually have not even, but torn edges. In places of such wounds, as a rule, the skin changes its color and a hematoma forms. This is caused by hemorrhage into adjacent tissues. In the case of lacerations, adjacent tissues usually do not suffer as much damage.

All three types of wounds have one thing in common:
high risk of infection through the torn edges of the wound. The risk of infection is higher in the case of lacerations, since the objects with which these wounds are inflicted are usually heavily contaminated.

The treatment and treatment of all characteristic, more or less serious, crushed and gaping wounds should be carried out by a doctor. Only small superficial crushed and gaping wounds, or not too lacerated wounds, can be treated independently. Perform an antiseptic treatment of the wound and apply a bactericidal plaster.

Bite wounds

Animal bites are associated with high risk for human health.

The result can be more than just severe soft tissue damage. The bite may be accompanied by the entry of highly pathogenic microorganisms along with the saliva of the animal.

In places where rabid animals have appeared (which official sources of information warn about), there is an increased risk of being bitten by a dog, less often by a cat. Most often, wild animals suffer from rabies, especially foxes and badgers, which people can fearlessly let close to them. Not every bite from a rabid animal automatically means that the person bitten will contract rabies. If this did happen, and if you do not take necessary measures, a person develops the following symptoms: insurmountable seizures, convulsions and suffocation.

Animal bite wounds and bite wounds from other people should only be handled and treated by a physician.
As a first aid, you can apply a sterile gauze bandage to stop the bleeding.

If there is heavy bleeding, a pressure bandage may be used.

Apply a sterile gauze bandage to the wound and fix it with a gauze bandage. Then apply a standard first aid dressing over the gauze bandage with some pressure. If necessary, wrap the applied dressings again with a gauze bandage.

With a few exceptions (bites to the face of a child), such bite wounds do not need sutures. They are treated with antiseptics in the open. Your doctor will decide which treatments are most appropriate. You should also discuss with your doctor the risk of rabies and the need for appropriate vaccinations.

If you are bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, you should be vaccinated immediately. In principle, preventive antibiotic treatment can be carried out, and if protection against tetanus is insufficient, appropriate vaccination should be given.

Children are much more susceptible to being bitten by rabid animals, as they are not yet able to adequately assess the behavior of the animal. As a result, being near an animal, children often simply forget that it can bite or scratch. Therefore, adults are obliged to teach their children the rules of behavior in the presence of animals.

Signs of wound inflammation

How do you know if a wound is inflamed?

When pathogenic microorganisms enter the wound, inflammation begins.

About the inflammation that began in the wound, says the following:
redness, swelling, fever and pain.

To be more precise, characteristic features inflammation of the wound are the following signs:

The edges of the wound swell and thicken;

The area around the wound begins to gradually turn red and inflamed;

A yellow or purulent plaque forms on the wound;

The pressure on the wound becomes more and more painful;

Sometimes it comes to fever and chills.

A wound infection may not spread beyond the wound itself. However, it can move to deeper tissues and lymphatic vessels.

When in the lymphatic vessels occurs inflammatory response, a red band forms around the wound. On the arm, it can extend to the underarm area, and on the leg, it can reach the groin area. In common parlance, this infection is erroneously called blood poisoning. However, the correct name for this process would be inflammation of the lymphatic vessels (lymphangitis) or nodes (lymphadenitis), that is, inflammation of one or more lymphatic vessels caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the lymphatic capillaries. This process can regress under the influence of drug treatment. If such injury or damage occurs, the most great attention should be given to the correct treatment of the resulting wound. Choosing the right treatment will help prevent infection.

If you are in doubt about the course of action to take, seek the advice of your doctor.