Which signs indicate an infected wound requiring medical care?

• A. Bleeding stops quickly
• B. Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever
• C. Slight tenderness
• D. Wound cleaned with soap and water

Answer: (B)

Signs that a wound is infected and needs medical care involve the body’s response to bacteria: redness that spreads or worsens, warmth around the area, increased swelling, the presence of pus, and fever. These symptoms together suggest an active infection that may require medical assessment, especially if they worsen or don’t improve with basic care.

Bleeding that stops quickly is more about initial wound control than infection. Slight tenderness can occur with normal healing, and cleaning a wound with soap and water is a preventive step to reduce infection risk, not an infection symptom.