Puncture wounds tend to trap debris under the skin. One example of this is a dog bite. The dog could have physical debris – like dirt, food or grime – on its teeth. It could also have bacteria in its mouth. When you get bitten by a dog, the teeth create a deep puncture wound, and there’s a high chance that this could become infected because the dirt or bacteria get stuck in the wound.
If it does become infected, your condition can grow very serious. It is important to know what signs to look for so that you understand when it is time to get more advanced medical treatment. Even if you initially cleaned the wound out and bandaged it, it could still get infected in the future.
What signs should you look for?
The following are a few examples of potential signs you may see when an infection sets in:
- The pain and tenderness around the wound increases.
- The area becomes red and swollen.
- There is drainage from the wound, such as pus.
- You have trouble moving the injured part of your body – if you were bitten on the arm, for example, it may become difficult to bend your arm at the elbow.
- Your lymph nodes are enlarged, signifying that your body is fighting off an infection.
- The bite wound turns into a bump or an abscess.
- You develop symptoms of a fever, such as sweating, chills and a high temperature.
It is important to take an infection seriously, as it can spread throughout the body and make you very sick. You may also need extensive medical treatment, and an infected dog bite is more likely to have long-term symptoms. As such, it’s important for you to understand the legal options you have to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner.