How to Tell if a Wound is Healing or Infected

Whether your wound resulted from a medical procedure or an unexpected accident, ensuring it heals properly while remaining infection-free should be a top priority. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell if you have an infected wound — particularly for those without healthcare experience. 

However, there are signs of infection that anyone can recognize. Understanding these signs will give you peace of mind as you ensure proper steps are taken for faster healing. Hopefully this article will answer some questions you may have, and help set you on a comfortable and successful journey of recovery.

BUT – please keep in mind that infections can spread quickly, growing increasingly dangerous. So if there’s any doubt, it’s essential to consult with a doctor or nurse before blindly following online advice. See a medical professional if you suspect something is wrong and are unsure of what to do. 

Signs of an Infected Wound

Infection happens when germs and bacteria find their way into a wound. Infection may be present if the wound site seems to feel and look worse day upon day. Pain, redness, and swelling may increase and become more prominent. These are surefire signs of infection. 

Signs may vary to an extent, but – bottom line – infection delays healing. Remember that even superficial wounds can become chronic if they don’t go through the natural wound-healing phases.

Here are some telltale signs of an infected wound:

• Warmth on the wound site: At the beginning of the healing process, all wounds will feel warm. That’s due to white blood cells fighting off germs or bacteria. If the area feels warm after five days, it means your body is still fighting to keep the infection at bay.
• Redness: You’ll notice redness, swelling, and soreness on the affected area immediately after injury because blood, nutrients, and oxygen are being sent to the site to support its healing. However, if it’s still red and swollen after a few days, it’s a sign that infection is setting in.
• Pain: Pain is natural and will slowly decrease in a wound that is healing correctly. But if there’s long-lasting pain that keeps getting worse, that’s a sign of infection.
• Discharge: If discharge, such as pus or blood, persists and has a bad smell and/or discoloration, you should have it checked out. This is a possible sign of severe infection.
• Fever: Fevers occur when an infection enters your bloodstream. Infections in the bloodstream are extremely dangerous. If you have both a fever and an infection, seek urgent medical care.

Signs of a Healing Wound

The signs below indicate that your wound is healing correctly: 

• Scabs: As your wound heals, you should experience bleeding, clotting, and scabbing – in that order. If your wound starts to scab, it’s healing perfectly.
• Tissue growth: New tissue will form around the wound in the first few weeks, indicating it’s healing correctly.
• Swelling: If your injury is swelling, it means your body’s immune system is working hard in a good way. Blood, oxygen, nutrients, and minerals are sent to the wound for repairs. Swelling typically lasts up to five days.
• Scarring: When the initial scab fades, often a scar will remain. It’s the last stage of healing, and it may stay with you forever if the wound is major. More often, though, they fade with time.