When should professional medical evaluation be sought based on the timeline of potential infection symptoms after a puncture?

Answer

If the injury site becomes increasingly painful and inflamed 48 to 72 hours later

Infection stemming from a skin penetration injury typically does not manifest immediately; rather, it develops over time as bacteria multiply within the wound tract. If the injury site begins showing signs of developing microbial contamination, such as increasing pain, escalating redness, warmth radiating from the site, or the appearance of discharge (pus), medical assessment is necessary. The timeframe cited for warranting professional attention is typically between 48 and 72 hours after the initial injury if these inflammatory signs worsen, which suggests that a common skin flora infection, like cellulitis, might be establishing itself or an underlying foreign body reaction is escalating.

When should professional medical evaluation be sought based on the timeline of potential infection symptoms after a puncture?

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