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¿Está infectada mi herida?

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Cómo distinguir la cicatrización normal en las primeras fases de la recuperación de los signos de alerta de una infección de la herida después de la cirugía: qué se considera normal, qué no lo es y en qué momento exacto debe contactarse al médico.

Una herida cuidadosamente suturada, con un suave halo de enrojecimiento que se extiende alrededor de ella.
La aparición de enrojecimiento que se extiende, así como un aumento del dolor y del calor alrededor de una herida, pueden ser señales de infección; debe hacerse una evaluación médica. Kieran Hirpara 4.0

Esta página se tradujo automáticamente y todavía no la ha revisado un médico. La versión en inglés es la versión oficial.

Después de una operación, es totalmente normal vigilar de cerca la herida y preguntarse si está sanando como debería. La buena noticia es que la gran mayoría de las heridas quirúrgicas cicatrizan sin ningún problema. Algunas incluso parecen un poco irritadas durante el primer o segundo día y luego evolucionan perfectamente. El objetivo de esta página es sencillo: ayudarle a distinguir entre una cicatrización normal y saludable y aquellos pocos signos que indican que debe llamar al médico.

Lo más importante que debe recordar es la tendencia de la evolución. La cicatrización normal mejora día a día. En cambio, una infección empeora: el enrojecimiento se extiende, el dolor aumenta en lugar de disminuir, y usted empieza a sentirse mal. Si la situación mejora progresivamente, eso es tranquilizador. Si, por el contrario, la evolución es claramente negativa, ese es el momento de actuar.

¿Qué es normal durante los primeros días?

Durante los primeros días, una herida en proceso de cicatrización suele presentarse así, y nada de esto debe causar preocupación:

  • Una fina línea de enrojecimiento leve justo en los bordes de la herida. Un borde rosado o rojo que rodea la incisión indica que el cuerpo está realizando su trabajo de reparación. Debe permanecer cerca de la herida, sin extenderse a la piel circundante.
  • Algunos hematomas alrededor de la zona; estos pueden extenderse y cambiar de color (de púrpura a verde-amarillento) a medida que desaparecen en el transcurso de una o dos semanas.
  • Hinchazón leve y una sensación de firmeza alrededor de la incisión.
  • Una pequeña cantidad de secreción transparente o con trazas de sangre durante el primer día aproximadamente, especialmente sobre el vendaje. Es normal que al principio haya un líquido fino y transparente, o apenas rosado.
  • Sensibilidad que mejora progresivamente. Al inicio, la herida resultará dolorosa; sin embargo, ese dolor debería disminuir día a día.

Si su herida sigue este patrón (se estabiliza, deja de secretar líquido y el dolor disminuye), casi con toda seguridad está cicatrizando tal como debería.

Señales de alerta de infección

Comuníquese con nosotros si observa cualquiera de los siguientes síntomas, especialmente si aparecen varios a la vez o si empeoran:

  • Enrojecimiento que se extiende o expande desde la herida, en lugar de mantenerse como una línea delgada en los bordes.
  • Dolor que aumenta después de los primeros 2–3 días: dolor que se intensifica o se vuelve palpitante cuando debería ir disminuyendo, en lugar de aliviarse.
  • La zona se siente caliente al tacto.
  • Hinchazón creciente alrededor de la herida.
  • Pus o secreción amarilla o verde: líquido espeso, turbio o de color (muy distinto del exudado claro y fino que aparece al principio).
  • Olor desagradable proveniente de la herida o del vendaje.
  • Los bordes de la herida se separan o se abren, en lugar de unirse.
  • Rayas rojas que se extienden por el miembro alejándose de la herida.
  • Sensación general de malestar, fiebre, escalofríos o temblores.

Ninguno de estos síntomas por sí solo implica un problema grave, pero en conjunto indican que el cuerpo está señalando que la herida requiere atención médica, no solo tiempo para sanar.

Qué hacer

Si cree que su herida podría estar infectada, no espere días a que mejore por sí sola. Comuníquese de inmediato con el equipo quirúrgico (llame a las salas) o con su médico de cabecera para que la evalúen. Una infección de herida detectada a tiempo suele ser un problema sencillo: un tratamiento con antibióticos administrado a tiempo resuelve la mayoría de los casos sin complicaciones. Lo que convierte una infección leve en algo más grave es dejarla sin tratamiento durante demasiado tiempo. Siempre preferimos recibir noticias suyas y comprobar que todo está bien, antes que que usted espere en casa mientras un problema tratable empeora.

Al llamar, le será útil describir lo que observa: cómo ha cambiado el enrojecimiento, si hay secreción y cuál es su color, si el dolor es mayor o menor que el día anterior, y si se siente mal o ha tenido fiebre.

Cuando es urgente: busque atención el mismo día

En la mayoría de los casos, las preocupaciones relacionadas con heridas pueden resolverse con una llamada telefónica rápida durante el horario laboral.
Sin embargo, ciertos síntomas indican una infección más profunda o en expansión, por lo que es necesario un evaluación urgente el mismo día por parte de su equipo quirúrgico, un servicio de atención fuera del horario habitual o el servicio de urgencias más cercano:

  • Fiebre, o sensación de calor y frío, escalofríos o malestar general.
  • Enrojecimiento que se extiende rápidamente por la piel circundante.
  • Rayas rojas que ascienden por el brazo a partir de la herida.
  • Dolor o hinchazón que aumentan rápidamente, o bordes de la herida que se abren con secreción abundante.

Estos pueden ser indicios de que la infección ha trascendido la capa cutánea; por ello, no deben esperar. Confíe en su instinto: si algo le parece claramente anormal, siempre es mejor someterse a una evaluación para quedar tranquilo que dejarlo sin atención.

Para consultas cotidianas sobre el cuidado de su herida en proceso de cicatrización, el uso de apósitos y cómo ducharse, consulte nuestra página de cuidado de heridas. Y siempre que tenga dudas, llámenos; para eso estamos aquí.

Reviewed by Dr Kieran Hirpara · 24 June 2026.

Talk to your treating clinician for advice specific to you.

For an appointment with the CQ Hand + Upper Limb team, ask your GP about a referral or visit www.cqupperlimb.com.

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