Why Are Bedsores Such a Serious Problem?

Bedsores, which are referred to medically as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, result from prolonged pressure on the skin, usually across bony areas, including the heels, ankles, hips, and tailbone. If you need to spend a lot of time sitting or lying in the same position, you’re at an increased risk of developing bedsores.

They develop quickly, and, though they often heal under proper treatment, some will never heal completely. They also put you at risk of developing several serious complications. Here are just a few reasons why bedsores can become such a serious problem.

Cellulitis

Bedsores are extremely uncomfortable, and they can easily become infected. Cellulitis refers to an infection of the skin and connected soft tissues. The skin may grow red, hot, and swollen, often cracking and weeping fluid as the condition becomes more serious. Infection is serious since it significantly impacts your immune system and can cause feverish symptoms. If you happen to face any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may immediately want to seek medical help. Your dermatologist can recommend better products that may probably have undergone many clinical trials offered by CRO firms (you can browse around here to learn more). It is better to start the treatment early rather than leaving the infection to spread to other parts of the body.

Bone and Joint Infection

If one of your pressure sores becomes infected, that infection can spread from the skin to the joints and bones. Joint infections are referred to as septic arthritis – they can damage the cartilage and tissue inside your joints, potentially making the mobility issues that confined you to bed in the first place worse than ever. Bone infections, referred to as osteomyelitis, can further reduce the function of joints and limbs while producing extreme pain when pressure is placed on the infected area.

Sepsis

Sepsis, a life-threatening complication of bedsores, emerges when the body’s response to infection begins to harm its own tissues and organs. Diagnosing sepsis typically involves a comprehensive approach, combining physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. The accuracy and timeliness of these procedures are crucial, as misdiagnosing or delaying the diagnosis of sepsis can lead to severe and lasting harm, and in some cases, even result in fatalities. In situations where medical negligence is to blame for such misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, individuals may have grounds to claim sepsis-related damages. If you have a question like “can you claim for sepsis?”, rest assured as there are well-established legal firms, which can ensure that accountability is upheld and justice is served for those who have suffered due to medical negligence in sepsis cases.

Cancer

In some cases, bedsores can be present for months. If your wound lasts this long, it’s possible that it will develop into a type of squamous cell carcinoma. It’s often hard to diagnose squamous cell skin cancer until the condition is quite advanced, so developing it can prove fatal.