Infected wounds?

Are there any obvious signs when you can tell a wound/cut is infected???

Redness, heat, induration (the area around the wound being harder than the skin outside of the area). In addition, if the color of the drainage coming from the wound does not match the wound bed (the bottom of the wound), then it is probably infected.

Pain is a good sign... if the pain level has changed or increased. Typically with any type of wound (injury or surgery) the pain will increase over a period of 24 hours and then gradually decrease until it heals. If it has been more than 24 hours, and you have an increase in pain, infection is a concern.

If you have any questions, it is always a good idea to consult with your primary care provider. If you do not have a primary care provider, call the nurse-line provided by your insurance company. If you do not have insurance, your local hospital can give you a list of doctors and/or low cost clinics (you would be pleasantly surprised at the number of quality nurse practitioner clinics available at really affordable prices).

yes... if it's swollen and very red... even after 24hrs treating it

Pain. Pain when you touch it, pain when you don't.
Pus. Pus is a pretty obvious indication.
Swelling. Puffiness and the sort.
Discoloration. Not just green, but bright red or white.
Sooooo... clean that sucker. Infection occurs because of bacteria so break out the alchohol.

Yeah, Redness around the injury, puss, discoloration that isn't due to a scab.... Bacetracin or Neosporin are really good over the counter things to help with infection, and they heal better too. less scarring

a real tell -tell sign is a red ring around the wound and puss

Puss, discoloration, very warm-to-the-touch,. greater pain than you usually feel for the size of the wound.

Redness around a wound is not necessarily a symptom of infection. An wound can have redness due to inflammation, and not be infected.

So some of the other symptoms must be present along with the redness to indicate infection.

If it is small wound and you are otherwise healthy, best to use Bacitracin on it instead of Neosporin, covered by a bandaid that is not too tight(don't want to use air-excluding bandaid). The reason is because I learned from my dermatologist that about 80% of the population becomes allergic to Neosporin after using it just once or twice.

If the area or limb suddenly falls off you can pretty much figure it was infected and you will have to buy a bionic replacment part. Kidding hope your ok.