Infection from birdshot?

[subversivegrrl]

So, my character gets shot running away and catches several pellets of birdshot in his calf. Post-apocalyse setting, he doesn't have a chance to tend to it right away - can anyone give me a rough estimate of how long it would take before he would develop an infection that could disable him? (Fever, altered mental state.)

Thanks in advance for any feedback. I may need to revamp my idea about what kind of injury is going to put him out of commission for several days (he will have access to someone who can remove the pellets and provide reasonable, situation-appropriate medical care.)

Comments

[lilacsigil]

24 hours is likely to develop infection, but you have plenty of leeway as to when that becomes a disabling infection - it could be superficial and unpleasant for days to weeks before getting serious, it could go bad within 48 hours. The birdshot will carry particles of fabric and dirt from his body into the wounds.

[subversivegrrl]

Okay, that could work. Thanks for the input!

[barbaratp]

Depende, pelo que eu saiba o local infecciona se por ventura ele estiver sujo porque a bala em si não leva a infecção, mas as partículas que ela solta de chumbo podem levar a uma intoxicação, além das partículas de sujeira que podem estar nelas no momento do deflagramento que podem causar infecção. E eu estimo por volta de menos de um dia a depender do organismo.

Lead poisoning from a retained lead bullet (plumbism) is a rare but serious complication, with symptom onset varying widely from days to decades (3 months to several years is common, with reports ranging from 2 days to 52 years). Symptoms often appear when a bullet is in contact with joint fluid (synovial fluid), the spine (cerebrospinal fluid), or highly vascular tissues, causing lead to break down and enter the bloodstream. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10969319/

Ou

Bullet wound infections typically develop 24 to 72 hours after the injury, with symptoms often peaking around day two. While some infections can appear sooner, others may take longer depending on the depth of the wound and whether debris was carried into the tissue. https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/wound-infection/