What Does Infected Road Rash Look Like?

When you suffer a road rash injury due to falling onto an asphalt surface while riding a bike or scooter without proper protective gear, it's common for many individuals to dismiss small cuts and scrapes as minor wounds that will heal on their own within days. However, sometimes these seemingly harmless-looking injuries can actually be signs of more serious conditions like infection.

In this article, we'll discuss the various symptoms you should look out for when trying to determine whether your road rash has become infected so that prompt medical attention is sought before it's too late!

1. Increased Redness and Swelling

One of the earliest warning signs of an infected wound is increased redness around the affected area beyond what would be considered normal healing time (usually 2-3 days). If you notice a larger, more vividly colored patch forming or spreading from where your road rash occurred then seek help immediately.

Another telltale sign that something might not be right with your injury could be pus oozing out of it - this thick yellowish discharge indicates bacteria are present and multiplying rapidly within the tissue underneath causing further inflammation.

3. Fever

If you develop a fever alongside other symptoms such as chills, sweating or feeling generally unwell after sustaining minor scrapes from road rash then head straight to your local emergency department stat! A body temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit indicates that infection has set in and needs immediate treatment.

4. Pain That Won't Go Away

Continued pain at the site of a cut or scrape even hours after initial injury is another red flag indicating possible sepsis (blood poisoning). If you notice increased sensitivity to touch around affected area along with swelling spreading beyond original wound edges, seek medical attention immediately as these could be signs your body's fighting off something more serious than just ordinary infection.

5. Fatigue and Weakness

If you're feeling tired all the time despite getting plenty of rest or experiencing muscle aches that won't go away even after taking over-the-counter pain relievers for several days, it may indicate sepsis has progressed into septic shock - an emergency situation requiring immediate hospitalization.

While most cases of road rash will heal on their own without complications, there are certain signs and symptoms you should never ignore. If left untreated, minor scrapes can progress to more serious conditions like infection or even blood poisoning (sepsis). Keep an eye out for increased redness and swelling beyond the original wound area, pus oozing from the affected site, fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, persistent pain that doesn't improve with over-the-counter medication, fatigue, weakness, chills, or general feeling unwell. If you notice any of these symptoms after sustaining a road rash injury, seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.

What does infected road rash look like