What type of symptoms might indicate a patient is developing an infection in a wound?

What type of symptoms might indicate a patient is developing an infection in a wound?

• A. Increased swelling and redness
• B. Lack of discomfort or pain
• C. High energy levels
• D. Stable temperature

Answer: (A)

Increased swelling and redness around a wound are common signs that may indicate the development of an infection. When a wound becomes infected, the immune response leads to a localized inflammatory reaction, resulting in symptoms such as swelling (edema) and erythema (redness) due to increased blood flow and white blood cell activity in the affected area. This response is essential for fighting off infection, making monitoring these symptoms crucial for identifying potential complications. The other choices do not represent typical signs of infection. A lack of discomfort or pain can sometimes be seen in certain individuals, but it does not indicate an absence of infection; instead, it may suggest that the individual has a high pain tolerance or that the infection is in its early stages. High energy levels would be atypical, as infections often lead to fatigue and malaise. A stable temperature might falsely imply no infection when, in fact, fever can be a key indicator of systemic infection. Therefore, while swelling and redness distinctly point to potential infection, the other options do not provide reliable indicators of an infection’s development.

Increased swelling and redness around a wound are common signs that may indicate the development of an infection. When a wound becomes infected, the immune response leads to a localized inflammatory reaction, resulting in symptoms such as swelling (edema) and erythema (redness) due to increased blood flow and white blood cell activity in the affected area. This response is essential for fighting off infection, making monitoring these symptoms crucial for identifying potential complications.

The other choices do not represent typical signs of infection. A lack of discomfort or pain can sometimes be seen in certain individuals, but it does not indicate an absence of infection; instead, it may suggest that the individual has a high pain tolerance or that the infection is in its early stages. High energy levels would be atypical, as infections often lead to fatigue and malaise. A stable temperature might falsely imply no infection when, in fact, fever can be a key indicator of systemic infection. Therefore, while swelling and redness distinctly point to potential infection, the other options do not provide reliable indicators of an infection’s development.