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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you have the following symptom, evaluate it first.

A cut that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives: Go to the topic Cuts.


	Yes

Do you have bleeding from a scrape?


	Yes

Has a scrape removed all the layers of skin (avulsion injury)?


	Yes

Are you unable to adequately clean a scrape using home treatment?


	Yes

Do you think you have an infection?


	Yes

Do you have a scrape that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Do you have a scrape that is not healing?


	Yes

Do you have moderate bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying steady, direct pressure for 15 minutes?


	Yes

Do you have mild bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying direct pressure 3 times for 15 minutes each (45 minutes total)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has the full tip of a finger or toe been scraped off, and bone is visible?


	Yes

Have all the layers of the skin been removed in an area that is or larger?


	Yes

Have all the layers of skin of the tip of a finger or toe been removed in an area that is less than ?


	Yes

Have all the layers of skin over a joint been removed?


	Yes

Does the scrape increase in size with movement of the joint?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to adequately clean a scrape at home because it is large or deep?


	Yes

Are you unable to adequately clean a scrape at home because cleaning causes too much pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a scrape on your leg or foot and peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from the scrape?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the scrape?


	Yes

Is the area around your scrape increasingly tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have pus in or around the scrape?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a scrape for 48 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen lymph nodes near the injured area for longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a large or deep scrape that gapes open?


	Yes

Do you have other skin cuts besides a scrape that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives?


	Yes

Do you have a scrape on the face, eyelids, lips, or other area that you are worried may scar?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.


	Yes

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.


	Yes

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a scrape that does not look like it is healing after 1 week?


	Yes

Do you have a scrape that has not healed after 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 10, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.