Cuts
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Do you think you have an infection?
See significance of an infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a deep cut?
Yes Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a cut over a joint?
Yes Do you have a cut over a joint and increased pain with movement of the joint?
Yes Do you have red streaks extending from a cut over a joint?
Yes Has a cut over a joint become more tender to the touch?
Yes Do you have any drainage of pus from a cut over a joint?
Yes Do you have a cut over a joint and think you have a fever ?
Yes Do you have diabetes?
Yes Do you have a cut on a leg or foot and peripheral arterial disease?
Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the cut?
Yes Is the area around your cut increasingly tender to the touch?
Yes Do you have red streaks extending from the cut?
Yes Do you have pus in or around the cut?
Yes Do you have a fever?
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than 2.5 cm (1 in.) around a cut for 48 hours or longer?
Yes Have you had swollen lymph nodes near a cut for 2 weeks or longer?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: August 28, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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