hand RELATED TOPICS: Athletes foot; Blood poisoning; Burns; Chicken son ivyand" f°0t' and mouth disease: Herpes simplex; Impetigo; Poi Quick Reference Blood poisoning SYMPTOMS • Wavy pink or red streaks under the skin • Sudden, quickly rising high fever • Swollen or tender lymph nodes HOME CARE • Call your doctor. Elevate the affected part of the body. • Apply warm soaks of Epsom salts solution (onehalf cup of Epsom salts in a quart of water). If there is an infected blister, include it in the soaks. Give aspirin or acetaminophen for pain and fever. PRECAUTIONS • Always contact your doctor, since blood poisoning should usually be treated with antibiotics. • If a child has a high fever or is prostrate (in a state of collapse), call a medical facility immediately. Blood poisoning is the spread of a bacterial infection into the bloodstream. In popular usage, blood poisoning refers to the development of red streaks from an infected wound or blister. These red streaks resemble broad, wobbly, red pencil marks. The streaks quickly (within hours) extend in the direction of the heart. They are signs of the infection traveling along the lymph vessels of the affected part of the body If ignored, the spreading germs can-within hours or days-reach the bloodstream. As the bacteria travel along the lymph channels and enter the lymph nodes, the nodes swell, become tender, and sometimes redden as their cells fight and kill the germs. If the lymph nodes succeed in fighting off the poisonous bacteria, the infection is halted A fever below 100°F or the absence of a fever indicates that the germs have not reached the bloodstream. A sudden, quickly rising high fever (over 101°F) generally means that they have entered the bloodstream гед),Ша,гт soaks of Epsom salts to an infected wound or blister with streaks extending from it. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS In a good light, the pink or red, slightly wavy lines are easily seen just under the skin. These lines may be one inch to several feet long. The lymph nodes toward which these red streaks lead are often swollen and tender. Blood poisoning can occur during early infancy, when natural resistance to infection is low: symptoms include irritability, fever, and poor feeding. Beyond infancy, blood poisoning results in high fever, chills, and prostration (extreme exhaustion or collapse). HOME CARE If blood poisoning occurs, call your doctor. Elevate the affected part of the body. Apply warm soaks of Epsom salts solution (onehalf cup in a quart of water) to the entire area. If there is an unopened infected blister at the source, include the blister in the soaks. Give aspirin or acetaminophen for pain and fever, following the dosage recommended on the label. PRECAUTIONS • Always contact your doctor. Blood poisoning is best treated with antibiotics. • If a child with blood poisoning has a high fever or is prostrate (in a state of collapse), contact a medical facility promptly. fifth