Inflammation is characterized by four key symptoms:
- Redness-caused by warm blood flowing to the area
- Pain-caused by damage to nerve fibers or irritation to toxic chemicals
- Heat-also caused by warm blood flowing to the area
- Swelling-caused by fluid moving from the blood to the tissue spaces of the injured area
Inflammation can cause a loss of function in an injured area. It traps microbes, toxins, and foreign material at the site of injury and prepares the site for tissue repair. For this reason, it helps to maintain tissure homeostasis.