Various damage to the skin are called wounds. Most often they are non-hazardous and are treated at home. But sometimes even slight damage to the skin leads to inflammation. Suppuration often occurs on the hands or feet, especially in the warm season. Various skin lesions can become inflamed due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, reduced immunity or the presence of chronic diseases. In some cases, independent treatment of purulent wounds on the legs does not help, and you have to spend it in a hospital. It is very important to notice the appearance of pus in time and use the preparations necessary for its removal. If this is not done, inflammation can lead to the development of various complications.
What is a purulent wound?
This is damage to the skin, accompanied by the development of pathogenic microorganisms in it. Pus begins to form in the wound, swelling and redness are observed around it. The tissues are painful and often hot to the touch. A dull throbbing pain is felt, often severe. In severe cases, general symptoms join local symptoms: fever, intoxication, headache.
Causes of purulent wounds
An inflammatory process can develop due to infection of a wound. This is due to infection in the wound. Very often this happens in the summer, especially if the skin on the legs is damaged. The appearance of a purulent process can also occur after surgery. Therefore, it is recommended to perform operations in the cold season and observe sterility in patient care. Such purulent wounds are called secondary. But there are also primary wounds. They are characterized by a breakthrough of the internal abscess without external damage to the skin. It can be an abscess, phlegmon, or an ordinary boil.
Such wounds are treated mainly by surgical autopsy and antibiotics. The appearance of a purulent process is affected by the age and condition of the patient's immunity, the presence of chronic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus, in which suppuration very often develops. Most often, elderly people who are full and weakened by diseases appear purulent wounds. Home treatment will be difficult in this case.
Phases of development of the wound process
Features of the treatment of purulent wounds depend on the stage of its healing. Most often, two phases of the wound healing process are distinguished:
- at the first stage, it is necessary to eliminate edema, remove dead tissue, and also eliminate hemorrhage and inflammation;
- at the second stage, tissue regeneration and scar formation occur. The healing of purulent wounds at this time can be accelerated by the use of special drugs. Modern medicines help to regenerate tissues faster without the formation of a highly visible scar.
Purulent wound - treatment
Ointments for quick healing are now available to everyone. Therefore, treatment can take place at home. But if you do not cope with inflammation in time, serious complications may appear. The correct treatment of purulent wounds on the legs includes several areas:
- Wound treatment - removal of pus, dirt and dead skin.
- Removing inflammation, swelling and soreness of the skin.
- The fight against bacteria.
- Acceleration of wound healing and stimulation of tissue scarring.
- General treatment aimed at increasing immunity and combating intoxication. It consists in taking immunomodulatory and vitamin preparations.
In severe cases, treatment of purulent wounds on the legs may require surgical intervention: opening and cleansing the focus of inflammation, and sometimes amputation.
How to handle the wound?
For faster healing and prevention of complications, proper care of the affected area of the skin is very important. In mild cases, this can be done independently. Treatment of purulent wounds is carried out 1-2 times a day and includes:
- A thorough disinfection of the hands and tools used for this, most often done with alcohol.
- Removing the old bandage. Moreover, this must be done very carefully, and when the bandage is dried, it must be soaked with “Chlorhexidine” or hydrogen peroxide.
- Careful removal of pus from the inside of the wound, treatment of its edges with an antiseptic in the direction from it to the edges and drainage with a sterile swab. It is sometimes recommended to lubricate the edges of the wound with brilliant green or iodine.
- Application of a drug or cloth moistened with it. If the wound is very deep, tampons or drainage are introduced into it for a better outflow of pus.
- Closing the wound with sterile gauze in several layers and fixing it with a band-aid or bandage. It is necessary to ensure that there is air access to the wound, otherwise anaerobic infection may develop.
In a serious condition of the patient, open purulent wounds are treated 3-4 times a day, each time leaving them in the air for 20-30 minutes.
Physical treatments
Previously, an open method of healing purulent wounds was practiced. It was believed that under the influence of air and sunlight, microorganisms die faster. In recent years, this has been abandoned, and a bandage is necessarily applied to the wound. Of the physical treatment methods, quartzization, ultrasonic cavitation, UHF and laser irradiation are now used.
Antibiotics for purulent wounds
In severe cases, antibacterial drugs are used to prevent the development of general blood poisoning and faster release of the wound from infection. If their use is required at the first stage, when the pathogen is still unknown, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed . They can be used in the form of tablets, injections and topical solutions or ointments. Only a doctor should prescribe an antibacterial drug, after taking an analysis of the pathogen. After all, the inflammatory process can be caused not only by common staphylococci or streptococci, but also by Xibella, Proteus, Escherichia coli and even Shigella and Salmonella. Most often, sulfonamide antibiotics are used for purulent wounds, an emulsion of streptocide and sulfidine is superimposed externally. The most famous antibacterial drug is penicillin.
External inflammation relievers
At the first stage of the development of a purulent process, it is recommended to use funds and ointments on a water-soluble basis, it is better if they contain antibiotics. The most commonly used are Levomekol, Levosin and others.
Treatment of purulent wounds on the legs can be complicated by the fact that inflammation is caused by many microorganisms, often even a fungus joins. Therefore, it is advisable to use complex means, for example, Iruksol. Antiseptic solutions are often used to treat wounds. The most famous of them - "Furacilin", hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate are sometimes ineffective due to the appearance of microorganisms resistant to their action. New drugs are now being produced: Dioxidin, Iodopyron, Sodium Hydrochloride and others.
Folk remedies
The healing of purulent wounds at the stage of regeneration can be accelerated by various herbs and other home remedies. They are used both to treat the affected surface, and to strengthen the immune system. Most often there are frivolous purulent wounds. Treatment at home is possible if the focus of inflammation is small and there is no general intoxication. Often, folk remedies are also used in medical institutions, due to the fact that many bacteria have developed resistance to drugs, in addition, they are safer. But their use is permissible only in mild cases, with a small area of damage. How can a wound be treated?
- The most commonly used alcohol tincture of Japanese sophora or calendula.
- The wound is treated with fresh aloe juice, plantain leaves or burdock.
- For lotions, you can use gruel from grated carrots, radishes, beets or a chopped onion.
- It is recommended to wash wounds with infusion of periwinkle, calamus roots, eucalyptus leaves or calendula broth.
- You can prepare an ointment for healing purulent wounds: mix the powder from the herb of caustic soda powder with petroleum jelly or honey with lard and xeroform. A good mixture of goat fat, salt and grated onions cleanses the wound from pus.
To improve tissue regeneration during wound healing, fish oil and sea buckthorn oil are used.
Complications of purulent wounds
If you do not start treatment on time or improperly treat the affected area, complications may develop, or the purulent process becomes chronic. What is the danger of purulent wounds?
- May develop lymphangitis or lymphadenitis, that is, inflammation of the lymph nodes.
- Thrombophlebitis sometimes appears, especially with purulent wounds on the legs.
- Pus can spread and cause periostatitis, osteomelitis, abscess or phlegmon.
- In the most severe cases, sepsis develops, which can result in death.
Inflammation Prevention
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