How to Tell If You Have a Staph Infection

A staph infection is caused by bacteria. It's scientific name is Staphylococcus aureus. Staph infections can infect any part of a person's skin, the inside of their nose and can be the cause of such diseases as meningitis and pneumonia. One place where staph infections are commonly contracted is in hospitals. You will need to treat this infection as soon as possible so it is important to learn how to identify it.

Things You'll Need

• List of symptoms
• Doctor to confirm a diagnosis

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Instructions

• 1

  Check to see if you have any open cuts or wounds. Are the cuts and wounds beginning to swell? Staph infections cause pain and swelling. You should especially be concerned if the cut or wound didn't hurt or swell when you first received it. Make sure you have a doctor take a look to confirm the staph.

• 2

  Look to see if you have developed any boils or carbuncles. Carbuncles are larger than boils, and both contain liquid inside. These would form somewhere on the skin near your hair follicles. They will be noticeable and even painful. These are always caused by a staph infection, so if you have them you need to get to your doctor as soon as possible.

• 3

  Pay attention to your skin. If it begins to blister, and there seems to be no known cause for the blistering, you may have a staph infection. The same is true if your skin is peeling, but you don't have a reason for the peeling. Have your doctor take a look and get a blood test to confirm or deny that a staph infection is the cause.

• 4

  Feel the lymph nodes on your neck, armpit and groin areas. If they are swollen, this is a sign of infection. This is not a symptom to treat lightly. Get to your doctors office as soon as possible to have him test you for the staph infection.