What are the stages of catheter-related phlebitis?

Phlebitis stages indicates the severity of inflammation in a vein due to an intravenous (IV) catheter. The score ranges from 0–4, according to how severe the symptoms are.

Symptoms in the early stage involve redness and pain at the IV site. If the condition progresses to the advanced stage, additional symptoms include swelling and a palpable venous cord, which is firmness in the vein.

In the early stage, doctors recommend removing the IV device and inserting a new one in another site. If phlebitis reaches the medium stage, they advise considering treatment.

One treatment may entail topical anti-inflammatory medications for people to apply to the skin over the vein. Another treatment option is an oral medication to reduce the formation of blood clots.

Keep reading to learn more about phlebitis stages due to IV therapy, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook.

Phlebitis is the inflammation of a vein, which results in redness, swelling, and pain. It can happen in an arm when a person receives IV therapy in a hospital.

The condition may also occur from a blood clot. When this happens, it is called thrombophlebitis. This may affect veins near the surface of the skin or deeper veins, but it usually occurs in the leg.

The staging system only applies to phlebitis due to IV therapy, a method of putting fluids into the bloodstream. It involves inserting a tube called a cannula into a vein. Approximately 25–35% of people who receive IV therapy in a hospital acquire phlebitis, notes an older 2002 study.

The chart below shows the phlebitis staging scale for IV therapy.

Stage	Description
Score of 0.	The IV site looks healthy.
Score of 1.	The IV site looks slightly red, and a person experiences slight pain near the site.
Score of 2, or early-stage phlebitis.	Redness and pain at the IV site are present.
Score of 3, or medium stage phlebitis.	Redness, swelling, and pain along the path of the IV cannula are present.
Score of 4, or advanced stage phlebitis.	Signs include redness, swelling, a palpable venous cord, and pain along the path of the IV cannula.

Causes of phlebitis include:

• infection
• injury
• irritation

The use and removal of an IV can lead to these causes. A 2016 study explains that IV-related phlebitis may stem from:

• Mechanical damage: This may happen when movement of the IV cannula inside a vein produces friction. It can also be due to irritation when a cannula is too wide for a vein.
• Chemical damage: This may occur when a drug or other component of fluid flowing through an IV has a characteristic that produces vein irritation.
• Infection: In response to IV insertion, bacteria may infiltrate a vein. This can create serious complications if the infection develops into sepsis. In sepsis, the infection leaves the IV site and becomes systemic, or circulates throughout the body.

Aside from IV therapy, thrombophlebitis can cause injury or trauma to a vein. If it affects a vein close to the skin surface, doctors call this superficial thrombophlebitis.

Risk factors for surface thrombophlebitis include:

• smoking
• taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• pregnancy
• underlying cancer

If phlebitis involves an IV site, a diagnosis may be evident by observing the symptoms.

In contrast, if symptoms suggest superficial thrombophlebitis, the following procedures are necessary for diagnosis:

• Physical examination: This entails noting any symptoms of redness, warmth, and tenderness over the track of a surface vein, along with a palpable cord.
• Medical history: This includes discovering whether a person has risk factors or conditions that may cause injury to a vein.
• Ultrasound: This imaging test can show the extent of superficial thrombophlebitis. It may also determine whether it has developed into the complication of deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in a deep vein.
• D-dimer blood test: This test measures a protein fragment that results when a blood clot dissolves. As the level of D-dimer is not always higher than normal in superficial thrombophlebitis, its use is limited.

Treatment of IV-related phlebitis differs from the treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis.

Treatment for IV-related phlebitis

In the early stage, experts recommend removing the IV and inserting a new one in a different site. Once phlebitis reaches the medium stage, they also advise considering treatment.

A 2015 review evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for IV-related phlebitis. Due to limited, poor-quality data, the authors concluded that research is too preliminary to determine how well current treatments work. However, options include:

• Topical treatments. Examples include a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as diclofenac gel (Voltaren) or a medication to reduce swelling of inflamed veins such as heparinoid (Hirudoid).

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: These decrease inflammation and include medications, such as ibuprofen.

Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis

Research from 2018 reports that most cases of superficial thrombophlebitis resolve on their own. Treatment may involve:

• elevating the leg above the heart to reduce swelling
• wearing elastic stockings
• applying warm compresses to the area
• using topical or oral anti-inflammatory medications

If superficial thrombophlebitis is more severe, treatment may include an anticoagulant, such as fondaparinux (Arixtra).

When the cause of the condition is an infection, in rare cases, treatment may necessitate surgical removal of the infected part of the vein.

Cases of phlebitis from an IV infusion can range from those involving mild discomfort to those with severe complications, such as sepsis. The outlook depends on the severity.

Phlebitis stages are a grading system that doctors use to diagnose and monitor the severity of inflammation of a vein associated with IV therapy.

Doctors do not use phlebitis stages to diagnose the severity of thrombophlebitis. Instead, the diagnostic process involves a physical exam, history, and ultrasound.

There are some differences in treatment between IV-related phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. Yet both conditions may entail treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anticoagulants.

What are the stages of catheter-related phlebitis?

Phlebitis stages indicates the severity of inflammation in a vein due to an intravenous (IV) catheter. The score ranges from 0–4, according to how severe the symptoms are.

Symptoms in the early stage involve redness and pain at the IV site. If the condition progresses to the advanced stage, additional symptoms include swelling and a palpable venous cord, which is firmness in the vein.

In the early stage, doctors recommend removing the IV device and inserting a new one in another site. If phlebitis reaches the medium stage, they advise considering treatment.

One treatment may entail topical anti-inflammatory medications for people to apply to the skin over the vein. Another treatment option is an oral medication to reduce the formation of blood clots.

Keep reading to learn more about phlebitis stages due to IV therapy, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook.

Phlebitis is the inflammation of a vein, which results in redness, swelling, and pain. It can happen in an arm when a person receives IV therapy in a hospital.

The condition may also occur from a blood clot. When this happens, it is called thrombophlebitis. This may affect veins near the surface of the skin or deeper veins, but it usually occurs in the leg.

The staging system only applies to phlebitis due to IV therapy, a method of putting fluids into the bloodstream. It involves inserting a tube called a cannula into a vein. Approximately 25–35% of people who receive IV therapy in a hospital acquire phlebitis, notes an older 2002 study.

The chart below shows the phlebitis staging scale for IV therapy.

Stage	Description
Score of 0.	The IV site looks healthy.
Score of 1.	The IV site looks slightly red, and a person experiences slight pain near the site.
Score of 2, or early-stage phlebitis.	Redness and pain at the IV site are present.
Score of 3, or medium stage phlebitis.	Redness, swelling, and pain along the path of the IV cannula are present.
Score of 4, or advanced stage phlebitis.	Signs include redness, swelling, a palpable venous cord, and pain along the path of the IV cannula.

Causes of phlebitis include:

• infection
• injury
• irritation

The use and removal of an IV can lead to these causes. A 2016 study explains that IV-related phlebitis may stem from:

• Mechanical damage: This may happen when movement of the IV cannula inside a vein produces friction. It can also be due to irritation when a cannula is too wide for a vein.
• Chemical damage: This may occur when a drug or other component of fluid flowing through an IV has a characteristic that produces vein irritation.
• Infection: In response to IV insertion, bacteria may infiltrate a vein. This can create serious complications if the infection develops into sepsis. In sepsis, the infection leaves the IV site and becomes systemic, or circulates throughout the body.

Aside from IV therapy, thrombophlebitis can cause injury or trauma to a vein. If it affects a vein close to the skin surface, doctors call this superficial thrombophlebitis.

Risk factors for surface thrombophlebitis include:

• smoking
• taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• pregnancy
• underlying cancer

If phlebitis involves an IV site, a diagnosis may be evident by observing the symptoms.

In contrast, if symptoms suggest superficial thrombophlebitis, the following procedures are necessary for diagnosis:

• Physical examination: This entails noting any symptoms of redness, warmth, and tenderness over the track of a surface vein, along with a palpable cord.
• Medical history: This includes discovering whether a person has risk factors or conditions that may cause injury to a vein.
• Ultrasound: This imaging test can show the extent of superficial thrombophlebitis. It may also determine whether it has developed into the complication of deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in a deep vein.
• D-dimer blood test: This test measures a protein fragment that results when a blood clot dissolves. As the level of D-dimer is not always higher than normal in superficial thrombophlebitis, its use is limited.

Treatment of IV-related phlebitis differs from the treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis.

Treatment for IV-related phlebitis

In the early stage, experts recommend removing the IV and inserting a new one in a different site. Once phlebitis reaches the medium stage, they also advise considering treatment.

A 2015 review evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for IV-related phlebitis. Due to limited, poor-quality data, the authors concluded that research is too preliminary to determine how well current treatments work. However, options include:

• Topical treatments. Examples include a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as diclofenac gel (Voltaren) or a medication to reduce swelling of inflamed veins such as heparinoid (Hirudoid).

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: These decrease inflammation and include medications, such as ibuprofen.

Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis

Research from 2018 reports that most cases of superficial thrombophlebitis resolve on their own. Treatment may involve:

• elevating the leg above the heart to reduce swelling
• wearing elastic stockings
• applying warm compresses to the area
• using topical or oral anti-inflammatory medications

If superficial thrombophlebitis is more severe, treatment may include an anticoagulant, such as fondaparinux (Arixtra).

When the cause of the condition is an infection, in rare cases, treatment may necessitate surgical removal of the infected part of the vein.

Cases of phlebitis from an IV infusion can range from those involving mild discomfort to those with severe complications, such as sepsis. The outlook depends on the severity.

Phlebitis stages are a grading system that doctors use to diagnose and monitor the severity of inflammation of a vein associated with IV therapy.

Doctors do not use phlebitis stages to diagnose the severity of thrombophlebitis. Instead, the diagnostic process involves a physical exam, history, and ultrasound.

There are some differences in treatment between IV-related phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. Yet both conditions may entail treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anticoagulants.

HIV AIDS treatment, antiretroviral (ART) therapy for HIV infection

I+ Therapy is an educational film for HIV-positive people, filmed by HIV-positive people who are not afraid to reveal their faces. A film for those who start taking therapy. “If a person cannot be cured, this does not mean that he cannot be helped.” After watching this video, a lot changes inside, there is a reassessment of values, positive thoughts appear: others were able, others did not break, they succeeded, so you will succeed too!

HIV-infected people and doctors on the importance of antiretroviral therapy for HIV

In the video, you will see the stories of real people, as well as the comments of the doctors of the AIDS Center in St. Petersburg regarding the use of ART therapy.
Do not believe the baseless claims of various people, articles and television programs that the virus does not exist, but rely on evidence-based medicine in making decisions about ART therapy.
Love yourself, be more attentive to your health. Remember, there is only one life!

You have been diagnosed… There is always a way out

After a person has been tested for HIV and received a positive result, the question arises what to do next.

Faced with the diagnosis of “HIV infection”, most people see their future life in gray tones, do not see a way out of this situation. They remember that someone once spoke about the incurability of the infection, the high probability of its flowing into the stage of AIDS, and they begin to believe this. The main reason, as a rule, lies in the lack or inaccuracy of available information about the disease. The truth is this – even with such a diagnosis, you can lead a full life and live for many years. Maintaining a normal life in HIV-infected people is possible due to the timely intake of therapy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and proper nutrition. This is quite successfully confirmed by hundreds of thousands of patients who are undergoing treatment, receiving information support and psychological assistance in specialized institutions.

Treatment of HIV infection. First steps

If the diagnosis is confirmed, it is very important to see an infectious disease specialist, for which you need to contact an infectious disease specialist at the Regional AIDS Center (if you are registered in Chelyabinsk) or a doctor responsible for HIV infection in your territory (if you registered in the Chelyabinsk region), for observation and consultation with specialists.

Why is it necessary to register?

• You will be checked regularly and kept up to date with your health status. At any time, you can take free HIV tests (pre-examination), which allows you to find out if there is progress or, on the contrary, worsening.

• With a certain result of the analysis, you will be prescribed a special therapy that will maintain immunity in a normal state, it is issued free of charge.

• You can visit a gynecologist, narcologist, phthisiatrician, therapist and other specialists.

• You will learn about programs that will provide free drugs for a number of comorbidities

• You can always get a consultation with a psychologist.

Antiretroviral therapy – the path to a fulfilling life

Unfortunately, a huge number of patients, paying attention to the huge flow of information on the Internet, come to only one, not entirely correct conclusion: the disease cannot be overcome. However, this is only partly true. Counteracting HIV infection is carried out in order to ensure that each person has a long, full and happy life, despite the defeat of the immune system.

With the threat of progression in the human body of HIV, treatment methods come down to one thing – antiretroviral therapy. It involves daily lifelong intake of several drugs that significantly slow down the disease. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV has already proven its effectiveness. Patients who take special drugs to counteract the immunodeficiency virus slow down the spread of harmful elements in the body for several decades. If without medical help a person resists HIV for about 8-10 years, then with antiretroviral therapy this period increases many times over.

This is exactly the scheme that HIV treatment represents today. This approach gives a person time, allowing him to do household chores, relax, work, lead a full-fledged lifestyle. That is why the most reasonable treatment option for HIV is ART therapy.

HIV is not a sentence

Of course, the diagnosis of damage to the immune system can largely change a person, his attitude, outlook on life, behavior, attitude towards loved ones. However, it is important to understand that there are many people and organizations ready to help when there is a problem. HIV is not a sentence. Even with this disease, you can live and enjoy life. This is proven daily by hundreds of thousands of HIV-infected people around the planet who have accepted their disease and actively resist it.

In the Regional Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS (Chelyabinsk, Pekinskaya, 7) you can receive outpatient treatment, free antiretroviral therapy, psychological, social and medical counseling.

For advice, you can call the hotline: 8-800-3-0000-34.

To make an appointment with an infectious disease specialist: 8 (351) 214-99-08.

Also, for help, you can always contact the self-help group, where classes are taught by peer consultants, and the patient’s school.

How to avoid HIV infection? – How to protect yourself? — HIV/AIDS: United Nations Children’s Fund

How can I avoid contracting HIV?

Fundamentals of HIV prevention: abstinence, fidelity, condom use.

Abstinence

To be 100% sure that you will not get HIV through sexual contact, it is best to abstain from sexual intercourse. In other words, simply abstain from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. For many young people, this means that their first sexual experience is delayed.

In Mozambique, Adriano teaches a workshop on HIV/AIDS among his peers. Photo by UNICEF. In addition, abstinence will not only help protect against HIV infection, but also protect against infection with other sexually transmitted diseases. Lack of penetrative sex is also the only 100% effective method of contraception (prevention of pregnancy).

There are other activities that are sexual in nature but do not pose a risk of infection. This includes kissing, hugging, massage, and masturbation (touching the sexual organs of a partner, but without contact with secretions from the genitals or blood on damaged areas of the skin).

Fidelity

When you feel ready to move on to penetrative sex, or when it’s time for your culture and traditions to have sex, being faithful to your partner will help you protect yourself and him. If you and your partner only have sex with each other, and both of you are not infected with HIV, then you are not at risk of contracting HIV.

However, in order to determine that you are both healthy (not infected with HIV), you must be tested for HIV infection. Being faithful will not protect you if one has already been infected with HIV during a previous relationship. Also remember that there are many ways to become infected (see the previous page for reference) and that an HIV-infected person may not show external signs of the disease.

Condoms

Always use a condom for penetrative sex; its correct use greatly reduces the risk of contracting HIV. The condom is also an effective method of protection and contraception. However, because condoms sometimes slip or break, they cannot guarantee 100% protection.

Used syringes

When injecting drugs, avoid reusing needles, syringes, cotton, or flushing water, or using syringes (needles, cotton, flushing water) that another person has used.