how can i tell whether my wounds are infected?

Question

they were self inflicted (sun. night) it's now thursday afternoon and they reali dont look good

i cant post a picture but its swollen and red sensitive and a lot more painful than it should be there was a lot of pus and it smelt but since i cleaned it and let it dry out theres been no more pus and the anti-sceptic has masked the smell. should i be worried about having no tetnus vacinations for 9 1/2 years and will the infection heal itself?

when i put sun. night it stood for sunday night, when the cuts happened sorry to those who were confused by that

i have an appointment with a self harm specialist 2moro at the hospital i cud get it looked at by a nurse while im there

Answer 1

Signs of infection include -- warmth (to the touch), redness (on and around the perimeter of wound), drainage (pus), foul odor, more pain and generalized fever. If you post a picture and detailed description I can help more.

EDIT: With that extra information. I suggest seeing a doctor. If unable to see one, keep it really clean and covered with an antibiotic ointment on. Antibiotics will clear this up for you. Any topical ointment sold at any drugstore should help. In general a tetanus shot needs a booster every 10 years. You are borderline. Tetanus is very serious and much easier to prevent than to treat once present. If you can see a doctor or go to a clinic for a booster and antibiotics I would suggest it. Good luck. By self inflicted -- I am wondering if you mean you are a cutter. If you are, seek treatment anyway. I understand that you may be embarrassed to reveal this to a doctor. A doctor cannot make you stop, you have to want to stop. If you are ready for help you can share that with the doctor as well. In any case you will benefit greatly from a doctors treatment.

Answer 2

Self inflicted wounds from sunlight? It sounds to me like you have a sunburn. Most sunburns do not become infected.

The signs of infection include redness, swelling, drainage, foul odor, heat and pain. The problem with a sunburn is that most of those occur even if there is no infection.

If you have blisters or other actual breaks in the skin, those can become infected. If you feel like you have an infection, you should see your doctor to be sure. This is especially true if you begin to run a fever.

Answer 3

There are 3 signs of an infected wound.
1. Area around the wound is warm/hot to the touch
2. redness/swelling at the wound site
3. white or bloody discharge from the wound.
4. foul odor (in extreme cases)

For a sunburn to be infected it would probably have to be a second or third degree burn with open blisters and peeling skin that was left untreated.

Answer 4

one of the risks inherent in self inflicting, if there is redness, heat, and/or drainage there is infection. Any one of the three symptoms.