Wounds can be caused by something sudden, such as a knife or a burn or a bad knock. Wounds can be caused deliberately, such as during surgery.

Wounds can be caused by infections, such as infections after surgery and infections in insect bites.

Wounds can be caused by being immobile, such as bed sores or pressure injuries.

Wounds can also be caused by chronic illnesses. For example, people with tuberculosis or leprosy can get ulcers. And people with diabetes can get ulcers after even the tiniest of knocks or scratches.

The signs of a wound are:

• a cut in the skin
• a graze to the skin
• redness and swelling around a mark.

But you should see a doctor if:

• the wound is deep
• the wound is to or near your eye
• the pain gets worse
• the redness and swelling is increasing
• you develop a temperature
• the wound is from a bite, whether by an animal or another human
• you have diabetes.