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? asked in HealthGeneral Health CareFirst Aid · 9 months ago

Stitches infected? ?

I got 3 stitches due to a dog bite about 5 days ago. I have an appointment to get them out tomorrow and the bottom portion (1 stitch) looks healed properly. The top one worries me because of the redness around it. Is it infected? I’ve done everything to keep it clean. Sorry the pic is a little blurry. Thank you 

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8 Answers

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  • 8 months ago

    Stitches are normally removed within 10 days when scabs are firm, swelling and bruising are nearly gone. Keep it covered for a few days to keep from getting infected. Wounds appear to be clean and without infection.

  • 9 months ago

    That looks alright except it is not healed enough for the stitches to be removed. 

    You said you have tried to keep it clean, but that is not right because you should not wash the area. It should be allowed to stay dry to heal.

  • Anonymous
    9 months ago

    yes this happens. maybe ask the doc to recommend a cream

  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 months ago

    If an area that has stitches isn't healed enough for the stitches to be removed, they won't be removed. They'll be removed at a later date. It looks like one area is just a little swollen and red, but that's not unusual. 

  • Anonymous
    9 months ago

    Looks okay to me. Animal bites are notorious for infection, but you'd see a lot of drainage & swelling if that were the case. The whole area is bruised, so a bit of redness isn't at all unusual.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 months ago

    Ouch!  Honestly, it just looks a little swollen, which isn't surprising at all.  It it doesn't feel hot to the touch, really red, or oozing something, you're probably just fine.

    Feel free to ask the doctor when you go in tomorrow about what signs to look for as you continue to heal. 

  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 months ago

    If you have an appointment for tomorrow, then in order to figure out if there is some sort of infection, draw around the perimeter of the red area with a pen.  If the red area expands beyond the pen mark tomorrow, then the doctor can see how much smaller it was today.  If that makes sense?  An infected wound's red area will expand over time. 

  • Tavy
    Lv 7
    9 months ago

    Most probably just inflammation of the skin.

    Wait and see tomorrow.

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