Venous leg ulcers are open, often painful, sores in the skin that take more than 2 weeks to heal. They usually develop on the inside of the leg, between the knee and the ankle.
If you have a venous leg ulcer, you may also have:
A venous leg ulcer can be susceptible to bacterial infection.
Symptoms of an infected leg ulcer can include:
Contact your GP if you think you have developed a venous leg ulcer. These are unlikely to get better on their own, as they usually require specialist medical treatment.
You should contact your GP or leg ulcer specialist as soon as possible if you have been diagnosed with a venous leg ulcer and have signs of an infection.