Cuts and other common wounds include injuries such as scrapes, abrasions and bites that break a child’s skin. These injuries can be minor or more serious. Infections and other ailments can follow one of these injuries.

The skin’s external location makes it susceptible to injuries such as cuts, lacerations, scratches, abrasions and puncture wounds. Children can also be bitten by animals or another person, and both types of bite can result in bacterial infection. Finally, some children develop chronic (ongoing) wounds due to illness, poor nutrition, surgery or other factors. These wounds may not heal or may heal slowly.

Cuts and other common wounds can be caused by a number of factors, such as a puncture with a sharp object or impact from a fall. Once the skin is broken, it may bleed as a result of torn blood vessels under its surface. Bruising may also accompany these wounds. In some cases, a child may develop an infection, including a particularly dangerous variety known as tetanus, caused by the toxin of the bacterium Clostridium tetani.

Parents can treat a child’s minor wounds using home-based care. However, more serious wounds require a visit to a medical professional. Treatments may include stitches to close the wound and antibiotics to prevent or kill any infection that may have resulted from the wound.