ABRASIONS IN CHILDREN
April 28th, 2009Home care
Wash the wound with soap and water, then examine it for any embedded dirt or other foreign matter. Inspect the wound carefully under good light, if necessary with a magnifying glass. To stop the bleeding, place a square of sterile gauze over the abrasion and apply gentle pressure directly to the wound.
If there is no dirt in the wound, apply a non-stinging antiseptic, cover the abrasion with a sterile bandage, and keep it covered until it heals completely and the scab falls off by itself. If the abrasion is in an area that is moved constantly (at a joint, for example), swab the scab periodically with an antibiotic or antiseptic ointment to keep it flexible and to avoid cracking.
If dirt is embedded in the wound, scrub gently. Sometimes, dirt will work its way out of the wound if you keep the abrasion covered and apply liberal amounts of antibiotic ointment twice a day.
Precautions
• Do not treat an abrasion that involves the full thickness of the skin. Have the doctor look at it.
• Remove dirt from an abrasion, both to guard against infection and to prevent the dirt from being permanently sealed under the skin.
• It is unlikely, but not impossible, that tetanus will follow an abrasion; since minor abrasions are seldom treated by a doctor, take the precaution of keeping the child’s tetanus boosters up to date.
• Impetigo may begin at the site of an abrasion; if it occurs, refer to the section on Impetigo.
Medical treatment
If an abrasion is deep and badly soiled, your doctor may apply a local anesthetic to the region and scrub out the dirt with a brush or a substance that will dissolve the dirt.
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