What are is a hand infection?
Hand infections are common and can occur in patients of all ages. There are multiple types and causes of infections, including but not limited to:
- Bite wound infection – bacteria from the mouth or teeth of another biter, both human and animal, can cause infection.
- Cellulitis – skin infection that can cause skin redness, warmth, and pain. This infection can rapidly spread throughout the body and requires prompt treatment.
- Deep space infection – these can be caused by a small puncture wound causing an abscess to form in the muscle area. These infections can spread to to other areas of the wrist and forearm if not treated properly.
- MRSA – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is an infection that presents as boils or a collection of pus on the skin. It is important to treat this infection right away to prevent it from becoming more serious or spreading it to others.
What are symptoms of a hand infection?
Hand infections can cause severe problems that persist even after the infection has resolved. Some of these symptoms include:
- Stiffness
- Loss of strength
- Pain
- Swelling
- Loss of soft tissue
How are hand infections treated?
Early treatment of hand infections is important and can sometimes be treated without medical assistance. However, other infections can cause problems quickly if not treated with a antibiotics or surgery.