Pressure sores (1848)

Key points below


What is a pressure injury?

A pressure injury is sometimes called an ulcer or bed sore. The injuries may be a result of constant pressure on the skin underneath a bony area or under a medical device. The most common places are the hip, tail bone, back of the head, heels and elbows. It starts as a red area and will get worse and cause skin damage if the pressure is not relieved. Some common causes of pressure injuries are:

How do I know my child has a pressure injury?

You will see:

How do I help my child prevent a pressure injury?

To help your child prevent a pressure injury:

Do not use doughnut type cushions to support parts of your child’s body.

How do I treat a pressure injury?

The best thing you can do is to check your child’s skin carefully at least one time each day. This way, you will see a problem before an injury starts. If you see an area of skin that is red and the redness does not go away in an hour or if the skin is irritated, call your child’s doctor.

It is important to keep pressure off of the area. If your child sits up in a chair for a long time during the day, they may need to lie down during the day to lessen the pressure. The doctor will tell you what to do to help the pressure injury heal. Your child may need a special dressing to help the area heal.

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has:

  • Any skin area that stays red for more than 1 hour
  • Special health care needs that were not covered by this information.