well you might not have to go to the ER but you definitly should go to the doctor and the doctor most likely give you antibiotics and that should help but if it seriously infected to the point that antibiotics dont work you will have to go to ER.
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I cut myself a week ago at work,it's not healing & I think it's infected...ER or conti
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Posted 2 years ago #
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It was a piece of metal I cut it on. I'm already up to date on my tentus(spelling on that one?) shot so I wasn't worrying about it. It's kinda deep and is on the top of my hand. I just wrapped it up & went back to work. I cleaned it once I got home and have been cleaning it daily(using peroxide then applying neosporin also) since it happened but it doesn't seem to be healing up. I expected it to red & puffy but it's only gotten worse. A couple days ago white/clear pus started coming out of it so I poured alcohol all over it & have been doing that a couple times a day but it hasn't stopped. It's even hurting more now.
My girlfriend wants to take me to the ER but I don't really want to go. Can I use something different to treat it at home with? If not,can a doctors visit wait until morning?
I didn't really think about the fever part. I've been feeling kind of warm but I took my temp. It's 101.3F. Is that high enough for the ER?Posted 2 years ago # -
You waited this long so don't go to the ER. There is no urgent rush so go to your doctors tomorrow. Unless you are running a fever, go tomorrow.
Good luck.Posted 2 years ago # -
No, if peroxide or alcohol aren't working then there isn't anything else you can do at home. Just go to the doctor, they will probably flush it, put some antibiotic cream on it and give you some oral antibiotics. Better safe than sorry, I wouldn't want to lose my hand! Things like this can get out of hand pretty quick! But it should be able to wait until morning.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think you should go to the doctor, it might be serious you should get it checked out. Or if you don't want to you can put some disinfectant on it. But I really think you should see doctor though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Go to the ER. Puss means there's something going on in there: puss is what you get when white blood cells die and they only accumulate in such large quantities when they are fighting off an infection. You shouldn't be alarmed because of the puss itself (just because there's an infection doesn't mean its a bad one or that it's one your immune system can't fight on it's own), but you should show some concern at the time passed. If it's been a week and it's only getting worse then something has likely gotten beyond your ability to control. Go to the ER and let a physician look at it. Better safe than sorry. Tetanus is not the only bad thing that can happen after a cut so your shot may prove to be irrelevant in this particular situation. You did your best but that's not enough this time around. Listen to your girlfriend and go get some help. Good luck.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Your girlfriend is right. The wound is infected but if you insist on treating it yourself try washing it with warm salt water then applying some zinc oxide cream. Put a clean dressing on it everyday. If it doesn't improve within the next two or three days you will have to get some antibiotics as the poison will travel through your bloodstream which is not good.
Posted 2 years ago # -
As a first-aider, I suggest you seek edical attention. You have tried to heal it yourself and nothing is happening. It's getting worse. Why would you keep doing the same thing if the cut isn't healing? Weather you like it or not, you need to visit the ER.
(P.S.) Weather you have a fever or not, the ER will still evaluate you.
Posted 2 years ago # -
101.3 usually isn't bad enough for the ER but with the other things going on with you go to the ER for sure.
Posted 2 years ago #
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