Does this need a Dr (picture of cut/graze)

[clumsyAF]

I'm super clumsy and cut/grazed my hand on Saturday.

It bled a bit, I cleaned it up and stuck a plaster over it. Due to work I've been changing the plaster fairly regularly and letting air at it when I'm home but tonight it looks a bit angry and it's really throbbing.

It's dry, a tiny bit warmer than the rest of my hand but it looks really red around the cut which has
Spread a bit (line is where the plaster came to and where the redness was at lunchtime)

I think it's fine and just to keep it clean and keep an eye on it.

DH thinks I should be phoning the dr as soon as it opens or my thumb is going to fall off.

Thats what i thought Tree...

If just antibiotics, surely OP can go to her gp not A&E....

Or is the dr thinking IV Antibiotics?

Following on from pp, I got my antibiotics for my foot from gp. Probably better for you than sitting in A&E where you'll be bottom of the pile seeing as it won't be classed as an accident or emergency.

A walk-in centre / minor injuries centre would probably be the best bet especially if you find it difficult to get a GP appt at your surgery.

Nurse here agreeing with the cellulite suspicions.

Hope you're ok this morning OP and can get it sorted quickly. X

I can't see real doctors suggesting A and E for antibiotics. If you can wait 12 hours then it is not an emergency suitable for A&E.
Op do you have a minor injury unit near by, they are brilliant for things like this and a much better use of NHS resources.

I'm so glad to see some posters speaking sense. A&E for antibiotics is why the NHS is a mess.

Call your doctor this morning and ask for an appointment. No need for A&E!! Goodness it's not life threatening.

I’d get that looked at. at cellulite and anti booties

I had cellulitis in my hand very similar to yours. After usual antiseptic cream and plaster instead of getting better, the redness and swelling started to spread. I went first to minor injuries and was prescribed antibiotics which had no affect whatsoever and then 24 hours later to A&E with the infection seemingly galloping up my arm in red stripes! You could watch it spreading! I needed IV antibiotics and was admitted for a day to make sure it was subsiding.

DH spiked himself with a rose throan a few years ago. He ended up with pain up his hand and swollen. He went to A&E (we have no minoras injury units round here) it was a weekend, good job to they gave him antibiotics and said it couldn't have waited till the next day. Infections can spread fast.

The first person to ever be treated with antibiotics died from an infection due to a scratch to the face as they didn't know at that time that they had to give a longer dose. He got better for a day and then deteriorated and died. People forget how easy it is to die from infections like this as we have grown up in a world of antibiotics.

It doesn't look as angry this morning and the redness hasn't spread outside the marks.

I'm currently waiting on a call back from the Dr about an appointment.

If you can’t get an appointment this morning go to a&e or a walk in/minor injuries. Cellulitis is nasty, anything on your hand is nasty, anything on a joint is nasty. Get it sorted.

I'd feel mortified going to a and e with that.

Just keep putting antiseptic on it.

I definitely will get it checked out. Receptionist almost scoffed in disgust when I told her what the appointment was for so think minor injuries is going to be the best bet.

Goodness it's not life threatening.

It most certainly can be @Mumdiva99. If it's not treated it can spread quite quickly and lead to other infections such as sepsis. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case with the OP and antibiotics from her doctor should do the trick.

@clumsyAF if the receptionist scoffed when you said you suspected you may have cellulitis, you need to speak to someone else like the practice nurse. The receptionist is not a medical professional.

Ds had an awful graze and the drs gave him fucidin. Do you have any kicking about?

That's a sore graze with a bit of infection. Why do you think chemists and pharmacies sell antiseptic!

Not that I'm a dr or anything I might add so don't want to give wrong advice or anything (!) ds graze was about 2 x 50 pence pieces size wise and all red and angry and weepy and redness tracking outwards and fucidin is what they gave x

The problem with reason I suggested A and E is practical just very difficult to get emergency GP appointment these days and can give IV if worsening so no delay. Problem with fucidin is that it is a narrow spectrum antibiotic and and will not treat all infections. Many of my disaster patients have been started in similar by GPs 24 hours before they come to us. Bottom line is that you don’t mes around with infections in the hand - particular the thumb as so important for hand function ( so many joint and tendon sheaths for infection to cause a disaster.
Glad for OP if not too bad this morning but not one to take chances with.
By the way for the doubters genuine doctors are allowed days off to look after their kids in school holidays!

@Trewser they do sell antiseptic.

They don't of course sell antibiotics however a pharmacist can advise to seek further medical attention or recommend another course of action.

@AlaskaElfForGin ffs, it's not life threatening atm, you can't go to A&E on what ifs, but maybe you do and that's why our NHS is fucked. See a pharmist, doc minor injuries all before going to A&E.

@PoultryBallot Can you show me where, at any time, I said the OP should go to A & E?

I said you need to see docs first thing for an antibiotic.

A poster said cellulitis is not life threatening, which I said it can be, then said

Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case with the OP and antibiotics from her doctor should do the trick.

I don't really know how you concluded that I said the OP should go to A & E given that, erm I didn't. So FFS yourself.

I'd slather it with antiseptic cream in the meantime and get a doctor to look at it if it keeps spreading but if its subsiding then it's probably fine. I think sometimes people forget how powerful your immune system actually is. Not every infection automatically needs antibiotics.

So the dr phoned back and doesn't think it needs antibiotics going from my description, I mentioned cellulitis but she though it unlikely with the description.
To keep it clean, get a hydrocolid (sp?) dressing and keep it covered. Phone back or head to minor injuries if the redness spreads, it gets hotter to touch and or starts weeping.

I've to soak off the scab that's formed before putting on the dressing and it should clear up itself.