My son fell and scraped his side, the neighbors put some gauze on it which is now being covered by a scab, is this harmful? the scab is getting really hard and the gauze is covered by the scab. he wont let me remove the gauze

It's : It's not necessarily harmful, just painful. The big problem is trying to change the gauze since leaving a dirty, blood soaked gauze on the wound for days and days can lead to infection. Put your son in the bath tub and let him soak the wound in warm water. The water will soften the scab and make it easier and less painful to remove the gauze. Afterwards, just clean the area with mild soap and water, apply an antibacterial ointment periodically and keep it covered for the next few days. The best bandages to use are the ones that have a non-stick layer. If the area becomes more painful, red or begins to drain, call your son's doctor.

Observe: Apply antibacterial ointment to the area three times daily. The scab is part of the healing process and try not to open the wound. Keep his tetanus vaccination up to date, watch for redness and swelling. If not improving, please see your pediatrician or urgent care.