According to some statistics, it has been found that around 1 to 4 percent of people develop an infection after undergoing surgery. As you might be aware, proper healing after a surgery takes time and if the surgical site gets infected, healing will get affected. That is why it is essential to properly take care of the surgical site. Not just surgical site, you should be careful with catheter sites and wound dressings as well. Always keep water away from the site as waterborne bacteria can easily cause infection. In this blog, we will tell you some signs that indicate you are dealing with infection. It is crucial to notice the signs early on so that infection does not progress and cause serious problems. What are those signs? Let’s find out.
Experiencing Fever
One of the most common signs of infection is fever. You should check your temperature when you start experiencing symptoms such as sweating, chills, shivering, and other similar symptoms. If your body temperature is between 97-99°F, then you do not need to worry that much. However, if your temperature goes beyond 100°F, you should get in touch with your healthcare provider.
Site Is Looking Red
Although a slight redness around the surgical site is considered normal, you should be concerned about it if it does not go away with time. Surgical site redness indicates that your body is healing. However, if the redness increases instead of decreasing, you should consult with your doctor.
Wound Pain Is Increasing
Just like redness, experiencing pain is considered normal after surgery. However, we all know that pain should reduce over time. If this does not happen in your case, it is a sign you need to talk to your doctor. Your doctor will inspect the site and accordingly create a pain control plan
Swelling Around The Site
In addition to redness, it is normal to notice swelling around your site. Swelling occurs because our body is transporting blood cells and fluids to the affected area to alleviate healing. Generally, swelling is not something that you should be overly concerned about as it goes away after a few days of surgery. Again, if the swelling does not decrease with time, you should let your doctor know about it.
Apart from the above-mentioned signs, two other signs you should look out for include pus and unpleasant odor from the wound site. If you notice any of these signs, it is important you contact your healthcare provider and let him/her know about the signs in detail. Also, it is recommended that you protect your wound site from water using wound cover for shower. You can use our Shower Shield Water Barrier to protect PICC lines, Hickman Catheters, Peripheral lines, Ostomies, Ports, Stomas, and Pediatrics.
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