How is phlebitis diagnosed?

As is always the case in medicine, the first step in any diagnostic procedure is to take a medical history. Here, the information about already known thromboses or their risk factors, such as pregnancy or taking the pill, is particularly important. In the following physical examination, an inflamed vein usually presents itself as a red strand that shines through the skin and can be felt as severely hardened.

Touching this region is usually associated with pain. If an inflammation of the vein is suspected, an ultrasound is first performed. Here, on the one hand, the clearly thickened vessel wall with corresponding inflammatory reaction can be detected, but also the clearly reduced blood flow. If a thrombosis can be detected in the ultrasound or cannot be reliably excluded, a blood test is usually followed by further imaging, such as CT or MRI.

How is phlebitis of the calf treated?

The treatment of phlebitis of the calf depends first of all on the cause and the severity of its manifestation. If phlebitis is due to varicosis, i.e. varicose veins, the inflammation is usually treated with cooling and anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving ointments such as Diclofenac. The second step is the treatment of varicose veins.

If, on the other hand, superficial venous thrombosis is the cause of the inflammation, in addition to cooling and the application of ointments, it is also recommended to elevate the leg and apply compression bandages. If the thrombosis, i.e. the blood clot, is fresh, in some cases it is recommended to remove it in a small outpatient procedure. However, if the thrombosis is deeper or at a junction to a deep leg vein, there is a risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).In this case, blood thinning with heparin is usually sought to avoid possible serious complications.

A bacterial inflammation of veins is also treated with antibiotics. There are numerous different home remedies that have proven to be effective against superficial phlebitis over the years. These include, above all, the use of various wraps.

The most commonly used are compresses made of alcohol and apple vinegar, curd compresses or clay compresses. All these forms promise a slight anti-inflammatory effect and cooling of the affected area, which leads to a reduction in pain. The individual components, such as curd or clay should have a temperature of about 18-23°C and be applied to the wraps as thick as a finger. Depending on how tightly the compress is tied, these can also have a certain decongestant effect.