An open burn wound creates a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the body, making infection a significant risk during the healing process. Distinguishing between a normal inflammatory response and a developing infection is important for proper care and to prevent serious complications. Recognizing the differences between expected changes and the signs of an infected burn allows for a timely response. The appearance of the wound is the most immediate indicator of its status, but systemic changes in the body also signal when the situation has become serious.
Understanding Normal Burn Healing
The initial phase of burn healing involves inflammation, which is the body’s natural first step toward repair. During the first few days, it is normal to see mild redness, swelling, and warmth around the burn site as blood flow increases to the area. This response brings immune cells to the wound to clear damaged tissue and fight off potential pathogens. The pain should gradually decrease over the first few days, and any initial clear or slightly yellow fluid drainage should lessen over time.
As the wound progresses into the proliferative phase, new tissue begins to form to close the gap left by the injury. This new tissue, called granulation tissue, often appears pink or red and may have a bumpy texture. For partial-thickness burns, new skin cells will grow from the edges inward, and the area may look moist or shiny.
Key Visual Indicators of Infection
An infected burn presents with a distinct set of visual and sensory changes that go beyond the expected inflammatory response. One of the most telling signs is a significant change in the color and consistency of wound discharge. While a small amount of clear or pale yellow fluid is expected, thick, opaque discharge that is green, dark yellow, or gray strongly suggests a bacterial infection. This purulent discharge is often accompanied by a foul odor emanating from the burn site or dressings.
The skin surrounding the wound will also display changes that indicate an infection is spreading, a condition known as cellulitis. Rather than the mild pinkness of normal healing, an infected burn will show new or rapidly expanding redness that moves far past the original burn margins. This area of spreading redness may feel increasingly warm or hot to the touch and can sometimes present as red streaks moving away from the wound. Swelling that rapidly increases or persists significantly longer than the first few days of injury is another local sign of trouble.
A localized increase in pain is a key indicator, especially if the burn initially seemed to be improving. Pain that becomes rapidly more intense, changes to a throbbing sensation, or is not relieved by over-the-counter medication signals that the infection is irritating deeper tissues. For deeper burns, the tissue itself may change color, sometimes developing dark brown or black spots, or the existing burn surface may become purplish or discolored, indicating tissue death due to a more invasive infection.
Systemic Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Attention
When a burn infection spreads beyond the local wound site, it begins to cause symptoms that affect the entire body. These systemic symptoms signal that the infection has become more serious and requires immediate medical attention. One of the most common signs of a spreading infection is the development of a fever, often defined as a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which may be accompanied by chills.
The infected person may also experience a general feeling of being unwell, described as malaise, or develop nausea and dizziness. These whole-body symptoms suggest the presence of a severe condition like sepsis, which can develop from an untreated burn infection. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency where the body’s response to infection damages tissues and organs.
Any burn that exhibits clear signs of local infection, such as foul-smelling discharge, rapidly spreading redness, or increasing pain, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. If a burn is large, deep, or located on sensitive areas like the face, hands, feet, or genitals, it warrants medical consultation regardless of the presence of infection symptoms.
The development of any systemic symptom, including fever, chills, vomiting, or dizziness, requires immediate medical consultation or an emergency department visit. Keeping the wound clean and covered remains a core part of care, but the presence of these symptoms indicates a need for professional intervention to prevent further spread and complication.