Does this wound look infected? Do I need to seek help tonight?

[GrazeConcern]

DS grazed his knee in the swimming pool on Friday, he said it felt sore so we’ve been putting germoline on it and he says it hurts much less now. However I’ve just taken a look at it and feel a bit horrified. Any mn wisdom? I will obviously seek nhs advice too but sometimes it’s useful to know what others think!

The scab in the middle is hard but it’s like the skin around is peeling off in a bigger area each day and weeping.

Bearing in mind this was an inconsequential graze no bigger than a 10p a week ago. im feeling so concerned.

Go back to the GP, if the cream isn't working he may need oral antibiotics.

The wound growing like that seems odd to me, I'd expect a bog standard infection to cause redness and swelling around the wound but under the skin, the skin then peeling back and the wound growing is odd. I'd go today

@Onlyvisiting that’s what’s freaking me out - it’s almost like his body has gone into overdrive.

I’d definitely be going back today.

A nurse at A&E once told me they would rather see a well child than not see a sick child as the parents thought it was nothing.

@GrazeConcern sounds like your GP surgery is a good 'un (rarer than hen's teeth as we know!)
Give them a call and see what they advise. Do you have an option to send photos?
If possible, do that.

And absolutely no swimming for the time being!
Hope your lad is feeling OK in himself.
All the best.

Firing squad ready, are they? Jolly good. I can tie my own blindfold... 🙄

That made me laugh.

I've brought up a few kids some mine and some not and would never usually get medical help for a graze. But the description of the injury growing and weeping round the edges doesn't sound quite right. I'd get a pharmacist to take a look.

Edit - just seen your update, I would definitely get that looked at.

If what the GP prescribed hasn't made a difference - it looks worse now to me - then go back or go to minor injuries at the nearest hospital. I cannot fathom why you are posting here and asking opinions.

My knee went like that years ago when I fell over and grazed it quite bad. It looked disgusting for a while but pretty normal part of the healing process ! Omg the state of it when I'd get out the bath 🤢 mine has scarred !

I would have stopped putting cream on it as that could be irritating it. When ds had an injury like this we put a hydrocolloid plaster/dressing on it and left it to heal.

@NigelHarmansNewWife for support/ possible exchange of similar stories. Obviously not a substitute for seeing a GP, and I now have an appointment for 9.

Can’t fathom how you can’t see the combination of real life medical advice and peer support isn’t a desirable one.

Dd had one similar a few years ago, go back and get seen again. Once she had oral antibiotics it healed up really quickly.

Hmm. The middle looks normal. The edge looks ok on a photo but your description is unusual.

Worth getting it looked at by the GP.
You, and us randoms on the internet are not Drs.

Hope you get oral antibiotics and a swab taken, OP. Fingers crossed it'll start to get better by Sunday evening with oral antibiotics.

@Tiswa until a few years ago in the UK we could also buy antibiotic cream off the shelf (Fucidin for example) but not any more; need a prescription. Govt has been trying to encourage cutting down on use of antibiotics generally, both oral and topical, due to worries about them becoming less effective, especially where people don’t always finish the course.

I looked at first pics & was like nah just a scab.
That last pic though especially after using Fucudin is a wee bit concerning to me.
It almost looks like an ulcer, I would make another GP appointment to get that reviewed and show them the previous photos.

This, it looks infected and the redness around it is a sign of that as well. I’d go to Asda or any other chemist who stocks beta-iodine silver gauze plasters. Literally those on it or iodine liquid or TCP on it as soon as you can to contain the infection.

You can't OP? This explains a lot.

Ok id definitely go to the GP now.

If the GP only prescribed the cream yesterday I'd say give it time, but if it's blistered now then ring them this morning and ask for a call back this afternoon.

Ignore the pearl clutchers, you were right to get it seen. It WAS infected. You were right to be concerned. Don't be put off following up.

I worked as a manned the accident/medical room for years at a secondary and you'd be surprised what funny things can happen from a simple graze and also from a standard treatment, sometimes the cream irritates the area and that's probably all it is. A quick call will settle your mind.

Always get your concerns checked out, the NHS is underfunded and we know that. It doesn't mean that what was seen by a nurse or GP as a matter of course in the 90s is now 'fussing'.

Let us know how you get on, OP.

Antibiotics for a normal healing wound 🤦🏻‍♀️

of course if it has gotten worse, then definitely treat it according to dr advice

No antibiotics for an infected wound

what this has shown is that we leave wounds far too long - I know when DS had his bad cut that was monitored by the nurses it was hard to see what was and wasn’t normal healing and needed cleaning out

I expect it's turned into impetigo.

I think impetigo is a good call but definitely worth getting it checked if it’s spreading.