Is this your symptom?
- Injuries to the skin anywhere on the body
- Includes cuts, scratches, scrapes, bruises and swelling
Types of Skin Injury
- Cuts, lacerations, gashes and tears are wounds that go through the skin to the fat tissue. Caused by a sharp object.
- Scrapes, abrasions, scratches and floor burns are surface wounds that don't go all the way through the skin. Scrapes are common on the knees, elbows and palms.
- Bruises are bleeding into the skin from damaged blood vessels. Caused by a blunt object or any injury, such as a sprain. They can occur without a cut or scrape.
When Sutures (Stitches) are Needed for Cuts
- Any cut that is split open or gaping needs sutures. Paper sutures or staples can sometimes be used.
- Cuts longer than ½ inch (12 mm) usually need sutures.
- On the face, cuts longer than ¼ inch (6 mm) usually need to be seen. They often need closure with sutures or skin glue to avoid scarring.
- Any open wound that may need sutures should be seen as soon as possible. Ideally, they should be checked and closed within 6 hours. Reason: to prevent wound infections. There is no cut-off, however, for treating open wounds.
- Do not delay getting the wound cleaned and treated.
Cuts Versus Scratches: Helping You Decide
- The skin is about ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick.
- A cut (laceration) goes through the skin.
- A scratch or scrape (wide scratch) doesn't go through the skin.
- Cuts that gape open at rest or with movement (such as cuts over a joint, like the knee) need stitches to help them start to heal and prevent scarring.
- Scrapes and scratches never need stitches, no matter how long they are. So this difference is important.
When to Call for Skin Injury
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
|
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
|
Self Care at Home
|
Call 911 Now
- Major bleeding that can't be stopped
- Deep cut to chest, stomach, head, neck or genital area (such as with a knife)
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- A large deep cut (can see bone or tendons)
- Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Severe pain
- Dirt in the wound is not gone after 15 minutes of scrubbing
- Skin loss from bad scrape goes very deep
- Bad scrape covers large area
- A large amount of swelling and pain near the injury that happens right away
- Cut or scrape and No past tetanus shots
- You think you have a serious injury
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Very large bruise after a minor injury (2 inches or wider, 5 cm or wider)
- Bruises appear without any known injury
- Cut or scrape looks infected (redness, red streak or pus)
- Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
- Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
- Dirty wound or a puncture wound and you have a weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, kidney problems.
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Doesn't heal by 10 days
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Minor cut, scrape or bruise (minor bleeding that stops)
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
