Abscess - Causes And Symptoms Of An Abscess

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Causes and symptoms of an abscess

What is an abscess?

An abscess (abscess) is a local accumulation of pus that appears due to an acute or chronic local infection, as a result of which tissue destruction begins in the focus. An abscess develops with inflammation of the skin or tissue under it after the penetration of microbes through abrasions, injections, wounds.

A characteristic feature of an abscess is that the tissues adjacent to the focus of inflammation create a kind of wall-membrane separating the infected area and limiting the purulent process and tissue death, which is a protective reaction of the body.

There are many types of abscesses: soft tissues, paratonsilar, pulmonary, post-injection and even brain abscess. But, regardless of their location, abscesses are always accompanied by pain and bring a lot of inconvenience.

The causes of the abscess

Most often, an abscess occurs due to a focal bacterial infection, mainly staphylococcal, as it leads to a weakening of the immune system and reduces the body's ability to fight diseases.

There are many ways for microbes to enter the body and ways of occurrence of abscesses: microscopic damage to the skin, suppuration of the accumulation of outflowing blood (hematomas), the spread of infection from a local focus, as well as boils, cysts, purulent infections and much more.

An abscess may occur due to the ingress of chemicals under the skin, as well as after medical manipulations (subcutaneous infusions, injections) performed without observing aseptic rules.

Abscess symptoms

There is a possibility of an abscess developing both on the skin and on any organ or tissue. Internal organ abscesses are most difficult to diagnose, and externally visible abscesses are located in the dermis, in the muscles or in the tissue under the skin.

The first sign of an abscess is a painful, hard nodule and redness around it. After a few days or weeks, a pus-filled capsule forms on this site.

The symptoms of an abscess coincide with the typical manifestations of purulent-inflammatory processes, regardless of their location. As a rule, this is general weakness, malaise, high body temperature (in especially severe cases, up to 41 °).

The final phase of the formation of an abscess is often its spontaneous rupture, leading to the release of pus. With superficial abscesses, pus comes out into the external environment and in the case of complete cleansing, the abscess loses volume, subsides and, in the absence of negative influences, eventually turns into a scar.

With abscesses of internal organs, the release of pus in the body cavity can lead to the development of various purulent processes.

Areas where an abscess may appear

Healing procedures:

• Abscess of the buttocks after injection
• Lung abscess
• Throat abscess
• Liver abscess
• Tooth abscess

Abscess treatment

Early diagnosis is very important for the successful treatment of an abscess. Treatment of an abscess, regardless of the place of its occurrence, is reduced to opening a capsule with pus and emptying it.

Most often, an abscess is the reason for surgery and hospitalization, but with small superficial inflammations, they can be treated on an outpatient basis.

With abscesses of internal organs (liver or lung), a puncture is sometimes done to remove pus and antibiotics are injected into the vacant cavity.

The extreme stage of surgical intervention for chronic abscesses is the resection of the organ along with the abscess.

After opening, the abscess is treated in the same way as purulent wounds. The patient is provided with rest, good nutrition, it is possible to prescribe a transfusion of blood products or blood substitutes. The course of antibiotics is prescribed only taking into account the sensitivity of the microflora to them. People with diabetes should be especially careful in the treatment of abscesses, since they will need a complete correction of their metabolism.

With timely treatment of abscesses and correctly performed surgical intervention, the percentage of complications is minimal. But a neglected, undrained abscess can become chronic or lead to the spread of infection to healthy tissues. A fistula may form at the site of a poorly cleansed abscess.

An abscess is a surgical disease, therefore, in order to avoid unwanted complications, at the first sign of it, you should consult a doctor.

The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist

Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.