If you experience any of the above symptoms after a road rash accident, seek medical attention immediately. When an infection affects the blood stream, you may experience flu like symptoms such as fatigue and a fever. White blood cells attempt to fight bacteria and fluid is produced as a result of dead cells, bacteria, and toxins. Any drainage is a classic sign of infection. If you feel as though your wound is pulsating you may have an infection. If your wound feels warm to the touch, it could be an indicator that your body is trying to fight off an infection. Swelling is a common side effect of scrapes, but if the swelling doesn’t subside or if it gets worse over time, it could be a sign of an infection. If the pain worsens over time, an infection may be present. Although a wound can become red from mere inflammation, if the redness spreads or gets darker, you may have an infection. This is why it is extremely important to be able to recognize signs of infection before becoming too late to treat your infection. Studies performed by The Mayo Clinic, as well as the CDC, have also found that an increase of “super bug” infections-MRSA and other antibiotic resistant infections-are becoming more and more common in road rash victims. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 200,000 motorcyclists a year suffer from some sort of accident-related road rash. Unfortunately, this is the case for many motorcyclists who experience road rash. However, when your skin is scraped, cut, or peeled off, bacteria, infections, and diseases have a clear path into your blood stream. Your skin is your first defense against infections and diseases. It stopped bleeding, but it’s really hot to the touch and you can see pus.Ĭould the wound be infected even though you cleaned it? Even though it’s already been two days, should you go see a doctor? Symptoms of Infection Even though you’ve cleaned it and bandaged it, it appears to be getting worse. Obviously, you weren’t prepared for this, and wound up crashing your bike to the ground-dragging your body with it.Īlthough the accident was humorously ridiculous in hindsight, your road rash isn’t funny. The next thing you knew, the box flew off the car-catapulting scalding hot pizza all over you. When you approached the intersection at Sligo, you noticed a pizza box on the hood of the car.

You were riding your motorcycle behind a minivan who had just turned out of Pacci’s. It has been two days since your unfortunate motorcycle accident caused the wounds on your legs and forearms.

Road rash face