Infections can strike following surgery or anytime your immune system is challenged. Common places in which you experience infection include your respiratory system, skin, digestive tract, urinary tract, and at specific wounds.
Infection can lead to serious complications, so it’s critical to seek care if you notice the signs and symptoms of infection. Emergency Room, a Village Emergency Center facility located in Texas, is open for walk-in patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can come in right away if you suspect an infection and prevent its spread or serious progression.
General symptoms
Regardless of where you’re experiencing an infection, you often experience a fever. A fever that’s of concern is usually 101 degrees or higher — this warrants a trip to ER. If you have chills, a decrease in appetite, and a headache, too, it’s a sign that your immune system is in overdrive in response to an infection.
A general sense of malaise also accompanies a systemic infection. You have very little energy and may feel tired, despite getting plenty of sleep.
Signs of a skin or wound infection
If you recently had an injury, such as cut, or surgery, the site is vulnerable to infection. In addition to fever and malaise, you can develop redness and swelling at your incision or injury site. If the area of injury hardens or feels hot to the touch, it may be infected. Any pain or drainage of pus is another indication that you should visit ER for treatment.
Urinary infections
Urinary tract infections can occur after surgery or commonly as a result of hygiene habits. Pain with urination, foul-smelling urine, burning, and increased urgency indicate a problem with your urinary tract. Seek an evaluation at ER so you find relief and resolve the infection before it spreads to your kidneys.
Respiratory infections
A respiratory infection can follow surgery but may also develop in response to sinus problems, a cold, or the flu. Signs include respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose, congestion, cough, and sore throat. You may have mucus that’s greenish or yellow when you cough or blow your nose, too.
Digestive tract infections
Gastroenteritis is a common infection of your digestive tract that can cause seriously uncomfortable symptoms. If it doesn’t resolve on its own or leads to severe vomiting and diarrhea, it puts you at risk of dehydration and requires a visit to ER.
Seek treatment if you have diarrhea — especially if you see blood — a fever, and muscle aches. Abdominal cramps and lethargy are other signs that you need care for a digestive infection.
Serious signs of an infection
When you notice the first signs and symptoms of infection, treatment can prevent the progression of the infection to other parts of your body. But if you ignore the signs or an infection strikes quickly, you may experience serious symptoms that require urgent, immediate attention. Do not hesitate to come to ER or call your doctor if you have a fever higher than 103, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
At Emergency Room, you can be assured you’ll get the individualized care to evaluate suspected infections, resolve any pain, and prevent serious complications. A private, freestanding emergency room, ER offers all of the same health care services and care as a hospital emergency room but with little or no wait time, 24 hours a day.
