Watch for spreading redness, warmth, worsening pain, pus or cloudy drainage, a bad smell, and fever.
MedlinePlus says most surgical wound infections appear within the first 30 days and lists the tell-tale signs: pus or drainage, bad smell, fever or chills, a wound hot to the touch, redness, and soreness. The CDC tells patients to call their provider immediately if they see redness and pain at the site, drainage, or fever. Normal healing looks different: mild pink at the edges, a little clear weeping early on, itching, and firmness under the scar. The trend matters more than any single day: an infected wound gets angrier day by day instead of quieter.
What to do
Common questions
How do I know if my incision is infected?
The reliable signs are spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pain that is getting worse instead of better, pus or cloudy fluid draining from the wound, a bad smell, and fever or chills. MedlinePlus lists exactly these and notes most surgical wound infections appear within the first 30 days after surgery. The CDC adds that redness and pain around the surgery site, cloudy drainage, or fever means call your healthcare provider immediately. What is usually normal: mild pinkness right at the incision edges, slight clear or pale-yellow weeping in the first days, itching as skin heals, and a firm ridge under the scar. What is not normal: redness spreading outward, red streaks heading away from the wound, pain climbing after day three or four, the wound edges pulling apart, or feeling flu-ish. A photo with a coin for scale, taken daily, makes spreading obvious. Do not sit on suspected infection to be brave: surgical site infections are treatable, but earlier is easier, and fever with a hot, angry wound warrants same-day assessment.