Infected burn WWYD- warning for graphic content.

[exerciseinmypyjamas]

Revolting content warning

I managed to burn myself on the edge of the oven shelf 4 days ago. Approx 5cmx3mm on my forearm.
And its infected. Red, swollen, itchy as hell and it looks 'wet'. Thankfully its not tracking but the redness is increasing in size.

However I live in the arse end of nowhere. Literally. We have a small pharmacy in the village that's completely overwhelmed. The GP surgery is also completely overwhelmed as well. To the point where there are posts appearing on FB asking people to stay away from both unless you're desperate.
The nearest A&E with a walk in centre is 48 miles away and I would really rather stay away from that as it's the only hospital in the region and is corona central.

So what should I do? I dont want to have to take up resources that someone else desperately needs, even though I have transport and I'm not in an at risk category. FWIW I cant take nsaid drugs as I am allergic to the lot of them.

Well an untreated infection could be an emergency so you need to ring you GP, explain your symptoms and see if they think you need to get an appointment or go to your nearest minor injuries/a&e.

Injuries like yours are what they want to treat, not simple things like colds, headaches and small cuts etc.

A&e is very quiet at the moment, and it’s unlikely someone with CV will be there so it’s relatively safe.

Seek medical help now when you can be treated with simple antibiotics rather than wait and potentially fall very ill from sepsis and need a hospital bed/ skin grafts. That would be a drain on resources.

An infected burn counts as entirely 'desperate' enough to trouble your local pharmacist and/or GP!!! Crikey, when they say 'only if it's urgent' in this case they mean...you. Or someone like you. So go, and soon - before you get to be in urgent need of A&E.

My GP is doing video calls so it's possible they could prescribe you some antibiotics which can be sent direct to pick up from your local pharmacy?

I really wouldn't leave it. If you can't get hold of your GP tomorrow call your pharmacist and ask for advice. They're busy - but you are important.

Glad you're looking out for tracking, try and keep it dry as you can till you can get some proper advice. How swollen is swollen??

Post a pic? We can point and go eurgh give you a nudge to get it sorted tonight if needed.

If any seen of an overall temp, or tracking call 111 and try and get it seen to tonight!

My GP has just prescribed me antibiotics for an infected injury from a photograph. I called them this morning, at their request emailed it to the surgery, he looked at it, called me back and has now sent a prescription to my pharmacy of choice which I'll collect tomorrow morning.

It is urgent. Better you take up local resource for 2x ten minutes than you take up a hospital bed for weeks with sepsis because you left it.

@ListeningQuietly only medical grade honey should be used for wound dressings. Honey can contain spores that cause botulism. Medical-grade honey is irradiated to destroy these spores. It's dangerous to just slap on any old honey.

OP, as others have said, you need to seek proper medical advice for a deep, infected burn. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Also, honey can really hurt.
Proper medical advice OP please

dickhead post about honey reported for deletion - it was NOT advice to smear honey out of a jar on the burn, anyway. Nor baby bum cream, an elderly tube of antiseptic or any of the other stupid advice you get on here.

as the ones with brains are saying -call 111 or go online to find out nearest option, but this needs treating ASAP. People who don't want to bother the doctor are often exactly those who should.

However far it is, go get treated.

Let it get as much fresh air as possible. It will itch as it heals as that is the skin pulling together. Try not to pick the scab and it wont scar as much.

Im a chef and this is a regular occurrence for me.

Talk to your chemist. The plasters with silver in them will help a lot. The silver kills the infection and a burn that bad should be covered while it heals.

As others are stating, an untreated infected burn could end up using more resources than just contacting somebody about it now. Please at least try the gp surgery before writing it off.

do NOT put anything on it other than a clean/sterile dressing and get it seen by the pharmacist at least or better still your doctor infections rarely heal on their own and need antibiotics

I've used pure manuka honey and a sterile dressing too - not a dickhead post either. As you were.....
All the best, OP

Salt water and see if you can get it looked at.

@DartmoorChef
Your advice is 40 years out of date. Wounds should be kept warm and moist.
Are you continuing to cook with an open wound? Yuk, pleased that restaurants are closed.
OP as above see an HCP

Of course i don't work with an open wound 🙄 but as soon as ive finished i will let fresh air get to it. 5cm x 3mm is not a big area.

sorry Katinski your wrong, having recently done a first aid course,
you dont put anything on a burn apart from 20mins in cold water at first then clean/sterile dressing to cover

get it seen as soon as possible.
pharmacy is good, they could advise if it needs medical treatment or can recommend would care if that is appropriate.

burns can look really angry when they heal.

Blimey some of the advice on here is dreadful. Anyone remember the sunburnt dh thread? Seriously OP if irs infected and not healing it needs medical attention and a sterile non adhesive dressing.

Update (sorry no pics!)

I've had a video call with the GP, who agrees that it is infected. He's written me a prescription for antibiotics that I need to pick up from the pharmacy tomorrow.

On his suggestion I wont be putting anything on it, besides I'm not sure the honey in my cupboard is edible. It's definitely not fit for putting on burns.

Thanks for all your advice

Great update. The honey used in hospitals is not bog standard food cupboard honey ..

I had an infected cut a few weeks ago. The go did a phone triage and did the same sent a priority prescription over to the chemist for me. Hopefully you feel better as they start to take effect, keep it covered as I read that is what you should do for wounds now. I had a chemical burn a few years ago an was given antibiotics in case of infection (I was quite surprised but the gp barely looked at me before handing me a prescription).

Please do not follow the advice to put lavender essential oil on the wound. Essential oils are not safe to use neat on the skin, and adding it to an infected wound could make it even worse. I don't understand why people suggest using essential oils. It is bloody dangerous advice.

OP I'm really glad you have been seen by your GP. I hope the antibiotics kick in ASAP.

good news and hope matters improve.

I got HQ to delete the seriously dickish post although another has appeared. Here's what you do for burns:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/treatment/

note it does not mention honey, baby bum cream, an ancient tube of something in your first aid kit, essential oils from your local pyramid scheme or anything except clean cool water.