Scratched burn wounds on my arm – possible infection? - #19964
Hello, I have several burn wounds on my arm that I scratched recently. The wounds have been present for about 2–3 days. They were initially minor burns, but I accidentally scratched them, and now they are open in some areas. The affected skin is becoming increasingly red and swollen, and the wounds are painful. I am concerned because the redness seems to be spreading slightly, and the pain is gradually getting worse rather than better. There is no pus yet, but I am worried that an infection could develop. I have cleaned the wounds gently with water, and I have tried to keep them covered with clean bandages, but I do not have any antiseptic ointment at home. I do not have access to a doctor tonight, as it is late, and I cannot call anyone. I want to know if these wounds are dangerous and if I should seek urgent medical attention tonight, or if it is safe to wait until tomorrow to see a doctor. I am also worried about possible complications, such as worsening infection or fever. Please advise me on what steps I should take to care for my wounds safely, how to prevent infection, and whether I need to go to the hospital immediately. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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Doctors’ responses
Hello dear See you can apply topical medication for immediate relief Silver nitrate solution twice a day for 15 days Donot apply directly cotton Fusidic acid topical application twice a day for 15 days Avoid application of phenols or chlorhexidine Since the burns are superficial so improvement will be there. In case of no improvement consult general physician medicine for better clarity Regards
Based on your description, the scratched burn wounds are showing early warning signs of local inflammation and possible developing infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, pain, and slight spreading of redness, even though there is no pus yet. At this stage, the situation does not sound immediately life-threatening, and if you have no fever, chills, severe pain, or rapidly spreading redness, it is generally safe to wait until tomorrow to see a doctor. However, careful wound care is very important tonight to reduce the risk of infection. Continue gently cleaning the area with clean water, avoid further scratching, keep the wounds covered with a clean, dry dressing, and monitor closely for worsening symptoms. If you notice rapid spreading redness, severe swelling, pus, fever, red streaks moving up the arm, or increasing pain overnight, you should seek urgent medical care immediately. Otherwise, seeing a doctor as soon as possible tomorrow is advised to assess the wounds properly and start appropriate treatment if needed. If you need any treatment let me know.
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