Blood poisoning myth
Today a topic from the category: Myths of medicine. Colloquially, a red line on the arm or leg is often referred to as blood poisoning. Just as often we are presented with children whose parents are full of fear and worry and immediately need antibiotics because the child has blood poisoning. A little education is needed here.
If a red line appears on the arm or leg, this is usually an inflammation of the lymph vessels, known as lymphangitis. It usually occurs as a reaction to a minor injury somewhere in the area. A stitch, an abrasion, etc. And in the very worst case scenario, a blood poisoning (septicaemia) can develop in the body from such a wound.
However, septicaemia is a very severe, serious illness that is accompanied by a high temperature and severe fatigue.
Lymphangitis, on the other hand, is in principle nothing more than a local reaction to an injury in the surrounding area - and in the vast majority of cases it is completely sufficient to take local disinfectant measures. For example, compresses with Octenisept. And then this lymphangitis usually disappears quickly.
So the message is: this red line is wrongly called septicaemia. There is certainly no harm in showing it to a doctor, but if your child is otherwise well, in most cases it is not an emergency! And be cautious with antibiotic treatment, which is hardly ever needed here.
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