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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MILD REDNESS OF WOUND |
- Warm Soaks or Local Heat:
- For open cuts or scrapes, soak it in warm water or put a warm wet cloth on the wound for 20 minutes 3 times per day. Use a warm saltwater solution containing 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of table salt per quart (liter) of water.
- For closed or sutured cuts, apply a heating pad or warm, moist washcloth to the reddened area for 20 minutes 3 times per day.
- Cautions for sutured wounds: Avoid any moisture to wound for first 24 hours. Never soak the wound before all sutures are removed.
- Antibiotic Ointment: Apply an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin 3 times a day (no prescription needed). If the area could become dirty, cover with a Band-Aid.
- Pain Medicine: For pain relief, give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen.
- Fever Medicine:
- Fevers only need to be treated with medicine if they cause discomfort. That usually means fevers above 102° F (39° C).
- Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil). See Dosage Charts.
- Expected Course:
- Pain and swelling normally peak on day 2.
- Any redness should go away by day 3 or 4.
- Complete healing should occur by day 10.
- Contagiousness: For true wound infections, your child can return to child care or school after the fever is gone and your child has received antibiotics for 24 hours.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Wound becomes more painful
- Redness starts to spread
- Pus, drainage or fever occurs
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
