Pus is the dead cells of our immune system. Often the basis of pus is the so-called leukocytes. These are white blood cells of the immune system involved in the cellular response when bacteria, fungi, protozoa enter our body. Leukocytes "absorb" a foreign body, after which they die on their own, the end product of cleavage, pus, is released.
Festering wounds
Pus is not only dead cells, but also a signal that an unfavorable inflammatory process is taking place in the body, requiring urgent treatment. Most often, such wounds are formed due to the penetration of bacteria into the thickness of the skin, therefore, even after a slight puncture with a needle of the palm, finger, forearm, the place should be treated with at least ethyl alcohol.
When an immune response is formed with the participation of leukocytes, he althy tissues are also affected. Blood begins to flow to the site of inflammation, and accordingly, the edges of the wound will be hyperemic, swollen, painful to the touch. Total tissue necrosis will be observed in the phase of advanced inflammation, when a person did not seek any medical help, did not take measures to treat the wound. Pus comes out through the channel through which they hitforeign agents, along with decay products.
Causes of purulent inflammation
Modern doctors consider any wound conditionally infected. That is why the number of running necrotic inflammations has decreased. However, doctors cannot eliminate the factors contributing to the development of aseptic inflammation, namely:
- concentration of pathogenic microorganisms;
- compromised immunity;
- sufficient injured area.
It is these reasons that are leading in the fact that pus forms in the wound. These are not all the reasons for the development of an acute inflammatory process, they include systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and 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, a certain period of time is given to its formation, during which symptoms increase. Namely:
- persistent fever;
- growing weakness and headache;
- the edges at the site of the wound begin to turn red, becoming puffy;
- local shooting pain, prone to radiating to neighboring anatomical areas (if the focus is located near the nerves).
As symptoms increase, pus comes out of the wound, the color of which depends on the pathogen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by a classic yellow color, but anaerobes, such as tetanus, gas or dry gangrene, are brown with a specific odor.
What are the complications?
If a purulent wound is not treated, the inflammatory process will spread deeper and deeper, affecting he althy tissues, disrupting the functions of adjacent organs. All purulent foci are tightened by secondary intention, which means that the formation of a scar and a cosmetic defect is guaranteed in most cases.
Long-term complications include:
- lymphadenitis;
- thrombophlebitis;
- purulent abscess;
- phlegmon;
- meningitis;
- blood poisoning (sepsis).
The severity of complications depends on the location of the purulent focus. The most dangerous are neck lesions, when the inflammatory process can spread deep into the fascia, and from there go into the bloodstream, rushing straight to the brain.
Treatment
The sooner a person goes to the doctor, the less he will have to stay in the hospital. All purulent wounds are treated surgically. The surgeon opens the purulent focus and rinses it with antiseptic solutions, removes non-viable tissues, removes drainage.
If the wound is small or the incision is impractical, then it can be treated conservatively. Special ointments are prescribed: ichthyol, Levomikol, Vishnevsky. They are able to "suck out" purulent contents from the wound. It is strictly forbidden to remove pus from a wound in a child, as the process will only get worse.
For prevention, even with minorinjuries, provide first aid. It would be nice to have hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol, an alcohol solution of iodine and green diamond in your first aid kit. These antiseptics are available at a price to absolutely everyone. And it is better to treat a small wound with alcohol than to seek medical help from a surgeon later.
