Abscess - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Abscess
Abscess DescriptionA collection of pus in a tissue cavity. There are two main types of abscesses - those under the skin, and those that occur in internal body organs (called an empyema on the surface of the lungs or brain). Abscess CauseThe destruction of normal tissue by bacterial, or rarely fungal, infection. If significant tissue destruction occurs, the destroyed cells accumulate as pus, and an abscess forms. May be a complication of a skin infection, follow surgery, appendicitis or similar internal infection, or be due to a penetrating injury. Abscess SymptomSkin abscess - appear as a red, painful swelling that is initially hard to touch, but as the pus formation increases, becomes soft and obviously fluid filled. Eventually a head forms that bursts and allows the pus to escape. Internal abscess - can occur in almost any organ, and often not found until they are a large size. Cause a fever and a general feeling of being unwell. The organs most commonly affected include the brain, liver, breast, lung, tonsils (causing quinsy - see separate entry) and teeth InvestigationSkin abscesses are obvious. Internal ones may be suspected by the result of blood tests, but ultrasound scans or laparoscopy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Abscess TreatmentSkin abscess - in the early stages antibiotics are given by mouth or injection, and hot compresses applied to the area. Once pus is present, the abscess is drained, scraped out, and the drain hole kept open by a small piece of cloth (a wick) to allow further pus to escape quickly. Internal abscess - antibiotics used to stop the spread of the infection but will not cure the abscess and the pus must be removed by an open operation under a general or local anaesthetic. ComplicationsParticularly nasty abscesses may develop around the anus and require quite major surgery to drain the pus. Prognosis of AbscessMost abscesses will slowly reduce in size and heal. If left untreated, a patient may become severely ill, with new abscesses forming in surrounding tissues. |
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