What are bed sores?
Bedsores are also called pressure sores; pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers are generally caused due to prolonged pressure on the area of the skin. It occurred on a bony prominence due to continuous pressure on a particular area.
Who gets more affected by it?
People who are unable to change positions require a wheelchair or who are confined to bed for long periods.
How Bed Sores Are Divided into Different Stages?
It is divided into 5 stages:
• Stage 1: At this stage, skin is intact with no blanchable redness of the localized area over the bony prominence and is painful, firm, and warmer.
• Stage 2: In stage 2, partial thickness occurs and causes a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound.
• Stage 3: At this stage complete loss of skin thickness occurs.
• Stage 4: In this stage, full tissue loss is seen even bones, tendons and muscles are exposed.
• Unstageable: At this stage, the actual depth of the ulcer is not seen but has slough and eschar in the wound bed.
What Factors Contributing to the Formation of Bed Sores?
The major causes of the formation of bed sores are:
• Blockage of blood supply
• Prolonged pressure
• Friction
• Shear: When two surfaces move in the opposite direction. In cases in hospitals when the hospital bed is elevated at the head, the patient can slide down the bed. Due to this act, the tailbone moves down, and the skin over the bone stays in place and pulls in the opposite direction.
What are the Risk factors that lead to bed sores?
• Paralysis
• Poor health
• Weakness
• The injury requires bed rest or a wheelchair
• Recovery after surgery
• Sedation
• Coma
• Weight loss
• Excess of moisture
• Decreased mental awareness
• Smoking
• medical condition that affects circulation
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Bed Sores According to Stages?
• In stage 1
Skin intact
Red
Pain
Firm
Soft and warmer
• In stage 2
Outer skin destroyed
Shallow, pinkish-red ulcer
• In stage 3
Deep Wound
Loss of skin
Ulcer of crater-like appearance
Yellow dead tissue at the bottom of the wound
• In stage 4
Exposure of muscles, bone, and tendons at the wound site
Slough, crusty dead tissue at the bottom of the wound
Which Tests to Be Done for The Confirmation of Bed Sores?
• Blood cultures
• The culture of tissue taken from the site of bed sore
• Blood sugar levels
What are the Complications of Bed Sores?
• Sepsis
• Cellulitis
• Bone and joint infections
• Cancer
What other diseases look like Bedsores?
• Ecthyma gangrenosum
• Warfarin necrosis
• Pressure ulcer
• Pyoderma gangrenosum
What is the Homeopathic treatment for Bed Sores?
• Arnica Montana
• Flouric acid
• Muriatic acid
• Lachesis
• Sulphuric acid
