Pus is a threat to life

Pus is the dead cells of our immune system. Often the basis of pus are the so-called leukocytes. These are the white blood cells of the immune system involved in the cellular response, when the bacteria, fungi, protozoa penetrate into our body. The leukocytes "absorb" the foreign body, after which they die, the final product of the cleavage, pus, is released.

Purulent Wounds

Pus is not only dead cells, but also a signaling that an unfavorable inflammatory process occurs in the body that requires urgent treatment. Most often, such wounds are formed due to the penetration of bacteria into the skin, so even after a slight puncture with the needle of the palm, finger, forearm, place should be treated at least with ethyl alcohol.

When an immune response is formed with the participation of leukocytes, healthy tissues are also affected. The blood begins to flow to the site of the inflammation, and accordingly, the edges of the wound will be hyperemic, edematous, painful to the touch. Total necrosis of tissues will be observed in the phase of neglected inflammation, when a person does not seek any medical help, did not take measures to process the wound. Pus emerges through a channel through which foreign agents enter, together with the products of decay.

Causes of purulent inflammation

Modern medics consider any wound conditionally infected. That is why the number of neglected necrotic inflammations decreased. However, doctors can not eliminate the factors that contribute to the development of aseptic inflammation, namely:

• Concentration of pathogenic microorganisms;
• Weakened immunity;
• Sufficient injured area.

It is these reasons that are leading in the fact that pus is formed in the wound. This is not all the reasons for the development of acute inflammatory process, they include systemic diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, thyroid dysfunction.

Symptoms of purulent inflammation

It is worth noting that the acute phase does not develop immediately. Pus is a product of final decay, therefore on its formation the certain time interval during which the symptomatology grows is given. Namely:

• Persistent fever;
• Growing weakness and headache;
• The edges in the wound site begin to turn red, gaining puffiness;
• Local shooting pain, prone to irradiation to neighboring anatomical sites (if the focus is located next to the nerves).

As the symptoms increase, a pus comes from the wound, the color of which depends on the pathogen. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by a classic yellow color, but for anaerobes, for example tetanus, gas or dry gangrene, brown with a specific odor.

What can be complications?

If you do not treat a purulent wound, the inflammatory process will spread deeper and deeper, affecting healthy tissues, disrupting the functions of adjacent organs. All purulent foci are tightened by secondary tension, which means that scar formation and cosmetic defect are guaranteed in most cases.

Long-term complications include:

• Lymphadenitis;
• Thrombophlebitis;
• Purulent abscess;
• Phlegmon;
• meningitis;
• Infection of blood (sepsis).

The severity of complications depends on the location of the purulent focus. The most dangerous are neck injuries, when the inflammatory process can spread deep into the fascia, and from there go into the bloodstream, directing straight to the brain.

Treatment

The sooner a person turns to a doctor, the less he will have to be in the hospital. All purulent wounds are treated surgically. The surgeon opens a purulent focus and rinses it with antiseptic solutions, removes nonviable tissues, and drains out.

If a wound of small size or incision is inappropriate, then it can be treated conservatively. Appoint special ointments: ichthyol, "Levomikol", Vishnevsky. They are able to "suck" the purulent contents from the wound. At the child pus to delete from a wound most categorically it is forbidden, as process only will be aggravated.

For prevention, even with minor injuries, provide first aid. It would be nice to have hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol, alcohol solution of iodine and diamond of green in the home medicine chest. These antiseptics are available for absolutely everyone. And it is better to treat a small wound with alcohol, rather than then seek medical help from a surgeon.