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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">parents</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>When Does a Cut Need Stitches?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/parents/stitches.html?WT.ac=pairedLink"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">¿Cuándo hay que ponerle puntos a un corte?</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p><em>How can I tell if my child needs stitches for a cut?<br /> – Andrea</em></p><p>Most kids get bruises, scrapes, and <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/safety-cuts.html">cuts</a> from time to time. Many <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/cuts-sheet.html">small cuts</a> can be treated at home by washing the wound and using a bandage. But it's important to know when a cut might need medical care or even a few stitches.</p><p>Your child may need stitches if a cut:</p><ul><li>is still bleeding after you apply pressure for 5 minutes</li><li>is gaping or wide</li><li>looks deep</li><li>is on your child's face, lips, or neck</li><li>has glass or other debris in it</li><li>has an object sticking out of it, such as a twig</li><li>spurts blood</li></ul><p>If a cut is spurting blood, an artery might have been nicked. It's important to put pressure on the wound with a clean cloth right away. The wound should be checked at an urgent care clinic or <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/emergency-room.html">ER</a> as soon as possible.</p><p>These guidelines can help you decide if a cut needs stitches. But doctors in your local clinic or emergency room are the ones will know for sure.</p><h3>If Your Child Gets Stitches</h3><p>A healing cut can get infected, so doctors clean them carefully. At home, help prevent infection by taking good care of the cut as it heals.</p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p class="center"><img src="/content/dam/patientinstructions/en/images/K-lacSuctureInfectA-415x233-enIL.png" alt="" /></p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p>Check the wound every day. Some mild redness around it is normal. But call the doctor right away if:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>There's growing redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound. This could be the start of an infection.</li><li>Red streaks are coming from the wound.</li><li>Pus drains from the wound.</li><li>The edges of the wound start to separate.</li><li>Your child develops pain or a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/fever.html">fever</a>.</li><li>The stitches have started to come out or the wound is opening up.</li></ul><p>A health care provider will take out the stitches later. How long they stay in depends on the kind of cut and where it is. Sometimes, doctors put small white sticky tapes (butterfly bandages) over the stitches to give them extra strength. These tapes loosen in a few days and fall off on their own.</p><p>Most cuts, even those fixed by stitches, leave a small scar. That's because when the deeper layer of the skin is injured, the body uses the protein <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/collagen.html">collagen</a> to help fill in the cut area. The filled-in area becomes a scar. Over time, some scars fade or get smaller.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: November 2019</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabKids"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="kids_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListKids" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Kids</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabParents"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="parents_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListParents" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Parents</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListParents" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="parents_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/bleeding.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Dealing With Cuts</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/cuts-sheet.html?WT.ac=p-ra">First Aid: Cuts</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/tetanus.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Tetanus</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/safety-cuts.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Household Safety: Preventing Cuts</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListKids" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="kids_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/stitches.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Stitches</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cuts.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Cuts, Scratches, and Scrapes</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/wounds.html?WT.ac=p-ra">Wound Healing and Care</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/stitches.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=p-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/stitches.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-parents-stitches.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(4,1,2,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/policy-licensees.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A KidsHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/eduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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