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Wound Infection — Warning Signs
What to do
- Know the normal course: a clean minor wound is most sore in the first 24 to 48 hours, then steadily improves. Pain or redness that increases after day two is a warning sign.
- Check daily for the infection signs: spreading redness, increasing swelling or warmth, throbbing pain, yellow or green pus, or red streaks running from the wound.
- Take your temperature if you feel unwell — fever with a wound infection needs prompt medical advice.
- Keep the wound clean and covered with a fresh dressing; wash hands before and after touching it.
- Arrange same-day medical care if you see infection signs — wound infections are usually treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician.
- Call 911 or go to emergency care at once for fast-spreading redness, severe pain, fever with shaking chills, confusion, or red streaks moving quickly up a limb — these can signal a serious infection such as sepsis.
What NOT to do
- Do not squeeze or reopen an infected wound to drain it yourself.
- Do not take leftover antibiotics from a previous illness — the clinician needs to see the wound first.
- Do not wait several days to 'see how it goes' if redness is spreading or you have diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system.
- Do not cover an infected wound with dirty or reused dressings.
When to get medical care
Get same-day advice for spreading redness, pus, increasing pain or swelling, or fever with any wound. People with diabetes, circulation problems, immune suppression, or wounds on the face, hands or genitals should seek advice at the first sign of infection. Fast-spreading infection, red streaks, severe pain or feeling seriously unwell is an emergency.
Related conditions
Related procedures & tests
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between normal healing and infection?
Normal healing: soreness and slight redness peak in the first day or two, then fade steadily as the wound closes. Infection: after initial improvement, redness, swelling, warmth or pain increase, pus appears, or you develop a fever. Worsening after day two is the key pattern.
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissues beneath it, usually starting from a break in the skin. It causes spreading redness, warmth, swelling and pain, sometimes with fever, and needs prompt antibiotics.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
