If you get a cut on your foot and ignore it, it could be the beginning of a grave mistake. When your foot has an open wound, it should be cared for immediately. The feet are often subjected to large amounts of bacteria inside the shoe and when barefoot on the ground. Bacteria will travel from the foot into the open wound and cause a dangerous infection known as a staph infection.
Yellow crusting on the skin is one of the first signs that you have a staph infection. Some start off as a boil, while others can be resistant to antibiotics. The more severe case can even lead to flesh-eating disease which can be deadly or result in amputation. In countries that use antibiotics regularly to treat disease and illness, antibiotic-resistant staph is more likely.
Cellulitis is one type of staph infection. It affects the deep layers of the skin. It can be treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
In the beginning of a cellulitis or staph infection, a small area will become tender, red, and swollen. Sometimes this begins with an open sore at the center, while at other times no sore is present. Over time, if this infection is not treated, the area of the infection gets bigger as it spreads. It can also cause the infected person to get a fever, have chills and give them the sweats.
Treating Staph
In most cases, a staph infection is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a podiatrist or other doctor. This type of treatment works well for staph on any part of the body including the feet and the legs.
In more severe cases, a staph infection can run so deep within the skin that it may require a surgical cleaning.
Prevention is Key
In order to prevent a staph infection, it is important to clean the wounds you get on your feet as soon as possible. This will help prevent any bacteria from entering the wound on the foot and spurring on the infection. All wounds should be cleaned thoroughly and examined by a trained podiatrist. At the office, a podiatrist may clean the wound further and put on a protective dressing to prevent it from worsening or getting dirty. If the infection is severe, it may require surgical intervention.
If you have an open wound on your foot or suspect that you are suffering from a staph infection, then call a podiatrist right away. Call Dr. Andrew H. Cohen of Mid-Michigan Foot & Ankle Center, located in Saginaw and Bay City, Michigan. You can reach our office at 989-790-8009 or make an appointment online today. A staph infection can be serious, let us help.