Bad Bugs Slideshow Pictures Take the Bed Bugs Quiz! 8217174

Medical Author:

Barbara J Blasko, MD

Coauthor:

Scott E Rudkin, MD

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

• If the wound will not stop bleeding after 5 minutes of direct pressure or is spurting blood, call a doctor or go to an Emergency Department.
• If the wound was caused by a nail, pen, or pencil, call a doctor to see if the person needs immediate care or close follow-up.
• If the person is not sure when they had their last tetanus shot, check with the doctor's office. Individuals will need a tetanus shot if it has been more than 10 years since their last shot or if their last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago, and the wound has been contaminated with dirt. This is done since immunity to tetanus may wane over time.
• If the person knows or suspects part of the object remains in the wound, contact a doctor. The individual may need urgent care to detect and remove the object.

When to go to the hospital

Seek emergency medical attention in any of the following situations:

• If the wound is in the head, chest, or abdomen, unless it is very small, but it is better to be sure. If there is any concern, see a doctor.
• If there is loss of feeling, numbness, or inability to move an arm or leg below the wound
• If the wound is more than 24 hours old and the person develops signs of infection, such as redness at the area of the wound, swelling, pus drainage, fever over 100 F (37.3 C), or red streaks coming away from the wound
• If the wound does not stop bleeding after pressure is applied for 5 minutes
• If the wound has part of an object remaining in it, such as a pencil tip, nail, or piece of glass
• If a lot of dirt remains in the wound
• If the wound is gaping or there is white tissue (fatty tissue) or muscle visible
• If the person has a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, or takes steroids
• If the wound is close to or in an eye