How can you determine if a wound's condition is deteriorating?

The condition of a wound can be assessed by monitoring various signs and symptoms, and increased levels of pain and redness are significant indicators of deterioration. Pain may indicate heightened local inflammation or infection, while redness can suggest an active inflammatory response or the body's effort to fight off infection. When a wound is worsening, one might also observe other symptoms, such as swelling, heat, or pus, which further signify an adverse change from healing.

In contrast, wound size reduction is typically a sign of healing, not deterioration. Similarly, the absence of inflammation and an improved appearance both suggest that the wound is healing appropriately rather than worsening. Therefore, heightened pain and redness are critical markers to observe for deteriorating wound conditions.