Abscess - biography
Inflammation around a hair follicle can also lead to the formation of an abscess, which is called a boil (furuncle).Find out what women really need.Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill, with nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills, and sweats.MedicineHealth is a first aid and consumer health information site written by physicians for patients and consumers.Win a Wii Fit from WebMD.Test your Health IQ for a chance to win!What Does Your Mouth Say About You?We subscribe to the HONcode principles.MedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.Related Healthscout Videos Fighting HIV and AIDS: New ResearchBlood CleanerNew AIDS DrugsFighting HIVMore...Health Tip: Keep Kidney Infections at BayMore...Abscesses may develop in any organ and in the soft tissues beneath the skin in any area.Common sites for abscesses under the skin include the axilla (armpit) and the groin.Causes and Risk Factors of AbscessAbscesses can be caused by minor breaks and punctures of the skin, obstruction of sweat glands and oil (sebaceous) glands, and inflammation of hair follicles.They contain dead cells, bacteria, and other debris, which causes inflammation and pain.The infection usually reaches an organ via the bloodstream or penetrates tissues under the skin via an infected wound or bite.People with weakened immune systems may be more prone to abscesses or may have more severe ones.Symptoms of AbscessAbscesses tend to get worse as time goes on.Symptoms include tenderness or pain and the site of the abscess being warm to the touch.Abscesses close to the skin usually cause inflammation with redness, increased skin temperature and tenderness.Tuberculous abscesses are the exception; hence their introduction as cold abscesses.Diagnosis of AbscessAn abscess is diagnosed clinically by means of the history and a physical exam, demonstrating a tender mass with overlying erythema (redness).Treatment of AbscessSmall abscesses may be helped by applying warm compresses to the area several times a day.This will sometimes promote spontaneous drainage of the abscess which is important since the primary treatment of abscesses is to drain them.However, it is also important to not attempt to drain an abscess yourself.Draining the abscess is done by making a cut in the lining and providing an escape route for the pus, either through a drainage tube or by leaving the cavity open to the skin.The area around the abscess will be numbed before draining.Many abscesses subside after drainage alone; others subside after drainage and drug treatment.Occasionally, their presence within a vital organ, such as the liver or brain, damages enough surrounding tissue to cause some permanent loss of normal function.However, the lining of the abscess cavity tends to reduce the amount of drug that can penetrate the source of infection from the bloodstream.Without spontaneous or surgical drainage, sometimes an abscess will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.Incomplete reabsorbtion leaves a cystic loculation (small pouches) within a fibrous wall where calcium salts sometimes accumulate to form a calcified mass.Questions To Ask Your Doctor About AbscessWhat medications are taken to relieve the pain?Will the abscess have to be drained?Will the abscess reoccur?Could this be Pilonidal Disease?An abscess is a localized collection of pus in any part of the body that is surrounded by swelling (inflammation).Abscesses occur when an area of tissue becomes infected and the body's immune system tries to fight it.Abscesses can form in almost every part of the body and may be caused by infectious organisms, parasites, and foreign substances.Abscesses in the skin can be easily seen, and are red, raised, and painful.Abscesses in other areas of the body may not be obvious, but if they may cause significant organ damage.Often, a sample of fluid will be taken from the abscess and tested to see what organism is causing the problem.Call your health care provider if you think that you may have any type of abscess.Prevention of abscesses depends on where they may develop.For example, good hygiene can help prevent skin abscesses.Dental hygiene and routine care will prevent dental abscesses.Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice.Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 89.Central nervous system infections.Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 31.Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine.Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.Medical Revising Editor: William C.When should I seek medical attention?What can be done to prevent abscesses?MD
Medical Editor: Jay W.Furuncle or carbuncle: This is an abscess in the skin caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.Any break in the skin, such as a cut or scrape, can develop into an abscess should it then become infected with bacteria.Next: Who is most likely to get a boil?Effective Treatments
The MedicineNet physician editors ask:
What kinds of treatments have been effective for your boils?From the Doctors at MedicineNet.Read about Staph infection symptoms, signs (boils, rash), causes (Staphylococcus aureus bacteria), types, treatment (antibiotics) and complications (impetigo, cellulitis).Night sweats have many different causes.Source:MedicineNet
Read 26 more Boils related articles ...MedicineNet provides reliable doctor produced health and medical information.Win a Wii Fit from WebMD.Notices and Legal Disclaimer."Picture of Abscess: Though an abscess is typically a deep infection, pus coming to the surface may be seen."Though an abscess is typically a deep infection, pus coming to the surface may be seen.Overview
An abscess is an infection characterized by a collection of pus underneath a portion of the skin.Bacteria commonly causing abscesses are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus.Abscesses can sometimes form if minor superficial skin infections are not treated appropriately and in a timely fashion.Most abscesses resolve quickly once appropriately treated.MRSA previously infected only small segments of the population, such as health care workers and persons using injection drugs.Many patients believe incorrectly that these bumps are the result of a spider bite when they arrive at the doctor's office.MRSA infection or a culture that is positive for MRSA, your doctor may need to provide local skin care and prescribe oral antibiotics.To prevent spread of infection to others, infected wounds, hands, and other exposed body areas should be kept clean and wounds should be covered during therapy.There are several common problems, including hemorrhoids, that
can occur in the area from the rectum to the anus.Anal Fissure
Most people have experienced a tear or fissure at the corner of the
mouth that can occur in cold weather or when yawning.Similarly, an
anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anus, frequently
caused by constipation.There may also be bleeding or itching
with an anal fissure.Fissures are most often located in the middle posterior
(back) section of the anus.It is important to keep the anus and
area between the buttocks clean and dry.After bathing, the patient
should gently pat dry with a soft towel.It is a minor
operation that is usually done on an outpatient basis.Patients can help avoid the return of fissures by
drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, and maintaining
adequate fiber in the diet.Anal Abscess and Fistula
An abscess is a localized pocket of pus caused by infection from
bacteria.When bacteria seep
into the underlying tissues in the anal canal, an abscess may
develop.Certain conditions, such as Crohn's disease (chronic
inflammatory bowel disease), can increase the risk of abscess in and
around the anal canal.Patients with conditions that reduce the
body's immunity, such as cancer or AIDS, are also more likely to
develop anal abscesses.An abscess causes tenderness, swelling, and pain.These symptoms
clear when the abscess is drained.The patient may also complain of
fever, chills, and general weakness or fatigue.It may or may not be associated with
an abscess, but like abscesses, certain illnesses such as Crohn's
disease can cause fistulas to develop.For example, in
women with Crohn's disease or obstetric injuries, the fistula could
open into the vagina or bladder.Since fistulas are infected channels, there is usually some
drainage.An abscess and fistula often occur
together.If the opening of the fistula seals over before the fistula
is cured, an abscess may develop behind it.Diagnosis
Diagnosis of an abscess is usually made on examination of the
area.If it is near the anus, there is always pain, and often redness
and swelling.However, signs
of fistula and abscess may not be present on the skin's surface
around the anus.In this case, the physician uses an instrument
called an anoscope to see inside the anal canal and lower rectum.Whenever the physician finds an abscess, and especially a fistula,
further tests are needed to be sure Crohn's disease is not present.Treatment for Anal Abscess
An abscess must be surgically opened to promote drainage and relieve
pressure.However, patients with a large or deep abscess, or those
who have other conditions, such as diabetes, may be admitted to the
hospital for the procedure.Antibiotics cannot take the place of draining an abscess.Antibiotics are carried by the bloodstream but do not reach the pus
within the abscess.If
it is, then prolonged treatment with a variety of medications,
including antibiotics, is usually undertaken.Often these medications
will cure the infection and heal the fistula.The surgeon opens the fistula channel so that healing
occurs from the inside out.Following
surgery, there may be mild to moderate discomfort for a few days, but
patients usually have a short recovery period.Often the
diagnosis is anal fissure, abscess, or fistula.These are problems
that are usually easy to diagnose and correct.Please consult
with your physician on any matters regarding your health.An abscess is an area of pus that forms as part of the body's effort to fight a bacterial infection.The immune system sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria.An abscess forms when there is no way for pus to drain.Abscesses can form in almost every part of the body.In the mouth, abscesses form in the gums, teeth or roots of teeth.People with a lowered resistance to infection have an increased risk of developing an abscess.At first, an abscess may cause a toothache, which can be severe.The tooth's nerve also can become infected.If the infection burrows through to the gum, it can form a visible swelling (boil).If the abscess does not drain, the infection can spread to other areas of the head and neck.The main symptom is throbbing pain that won't go away.Usually, your dentist can diagnose a tooth abscess by examining your mouth.The dentist also may do a nerve (pulp) test on the affected tooth to see if it is still alive.Once the abscess is drained, most symptoms go away quickly or within a few days.However, the abscess will not be cured unless the cause is eliminated.Good oral hygiene can help prevent abscesses.This means that you need to keep teeth and gums free of food.Teeth that have decay (cavities) can be treated before they become painful, infected or abscessed.Saving an abscessed tooth begins with draining the infection.If an abscessed tooth can be saved, the infection can be drained directly from the inside of the tooth.If the abscess is in the gums, your dentist may suggest that you rinse with warm salt water a few times a day for several days.This can show whether healthy bone and tissue are filling the area of the abscess.If you have a toothache or notice evidence of an abscess on your gum, visit your dentist.Even if the abscess drains and the pain decreases, a visit to the dentist for complete treatment is crucial.Old abscesses that are not painful can become painful and swollen again at any time.
