Purulent drainage is a sign of infection. It's a white, yellow, or brown fluid and might be slightly thick in texture. It's made up of white blood cells trying to fight the infection, plus the residue from any bacteria pushed out of the wound. There may be an unpleasant smell to the fluid, as well.
Purulent Wound Drainage
Exudate that becomes a thick, milky liquid or a thick liquid that turns yellow, tan, gray, green, or brown is almost always a sign that infection is present. This drainage contains white blood cells, dead bacteria, wound debris, and inflammatory cells.
Color: Wound drainage that is part of the healing process is usually clear or has a pale hue. Slightly colored drainage or discharge that changes color may be a sign of an infection. Odor: Most of the time, smell is not a good indicator of an infection.
Serous drainage is composed mainly of plasma. It is often thin and watery and will usually have a clear to yellowish or brownish appearance. Small amounts of serous drainage are normal during the first stages of healing.
A wound that's healing can produce a clear or pink fluid. An infected wound can produce a yellowish, bad-smelling fluid called pus. When fluid seeps from a wound, it is called wound drainage.
Can an infected wound or cut heal on its own? Some minor wound infections can heal on their own, but if a wound starts to develop more drainage, the surrounding redness spreads, or if a person develops a fever, a person should seek further medical attention.
Yellow, grey or green: Yellow, grey or green discharge may suggest a bacterial or sexually transmitted infection (STI). Brown or red: Brown or red discharge is usually related to irregular menstruation or pregnancy (implantation bleeding).
See your doctor immediately if you notice a change in color or odor of the fluid oozing from your wound. Purulent drainage is yellow, green, brown, or white and has a strong odor. The earlier an infection is caught, the easier it can be treated.
Once you stop the bleeding and clean the wound, you should apply a clean bandage. Here's why: Air dries out the wound and promotes cell death, not healing. Covering the wound maintains the natural moisture that helps keep cells alive.
A thin white or gray vaginal discharge; Pain, itching, or burning in the vagina; A strong fish-like odor, especially after sex; Burning when peeing; and.
Debride the wound by removing dead or infected tissue in the wound. Rinse the wound with salt water (saline solution) Drain the pocket of pus (abscess), if present. Pack the wound with saline-soaked dressings and a bandage.
Other signs that you need to see a medical professional include increasing redness, swelling, or pain around the wound. Oozing liquid, pus or an abscess forming are other signs of infection that need to be seen by a doctor, particularly if the discharge smells bad, which could be a sign of necrosis (dead flesh).
If there's nothing wrong with the wound but it looks the same and hasn't closed up after 10 days, the wound may be septic. High fever. When a wound is septic, individuals tend to have a fever.
"When an infection reaches a certain point, this can happen in a matter of hours." Sepsis usually starts out as an infection in just one part of the body, such as a skin wound or a urinary tract infection, Tracey says.
blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, blueness may be easier to see on the lips, tongue or gums, under the nails or around the eyes. a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis. difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast.
Healthy granulation tissue is pink in colour and is an indicator of healing. Unhealthy granulation is dark red in colour, often bleeds on contact, and may indicate the presence of wound infection.
Sometimes a wound is clean but there's a risk of infection because of where it is on the body. If the wound is in an area that has more bacteria — like the urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, or respiratory system — fluids and other contaminants could get into the wound and cause infection.
Serous and serosanguinous drainage are normal for the first two or three days. But you should watch for signs that the amount of blood mixed with serum is increasing. If this happens, see your doctor. Paying close attention to a wound as it heals is vital.