An abscess is a large, pus-filled pocket generally caused by germs and microbes. They can form externally on the skin as well as internally. An abscess is fairly easy to treat with medical assistance, but it can result in potentially serious complications. Here’s a look at the causes, symptoms, treatment, and risk factors of abscesses.
Abscess Causes
Abscesses are a skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). They are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even fungi getting inside an open sore. Even ingrown hairs can ultimately cause an abscess. External abscesses can form as a result of injury as well; additionally, abdominal surgeries can create open places for bacteria and other pathogens to get into your system. Internal abscesses also form when internal bacterial infections spread in some way. For example, if your appendix bursts, the infection can be contracted in the abdomen sufficiently to form an abscess. Lung infections, such as pneumonia, can result in lung abscesses.
White blood cells are sent by the immune system to fight off the infection. While doing this, the affected area becomes inflamed and tissue begins to die. The resulting depression in the skin fills up with pus, a combination of dead tissue, bacteria, and white blood cells. Some bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, emit a toxin called Panton-Valentine leukocidin. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Services (NHS), this toxin “kills white blood cells.” The body continues to send them, the bacteria continues to kill them, and still the abscess fills with pus and gets larger and larger.
Abscess Symptoms
In appearance, abscesses are large, raised, discolored bumps or lumps that pop up in places no lump or bump naturally should. It becomes swollen, red, hot to the touch, and may develop a white “head” much like a really, really big pimple. You may notice some tenderness (or even find it quite painful), and abscesses can even leak without being “popped.” If the infection is severe enough, you may develop a fever or other symptoms of illness. Internally, they may cause gastrointestinal distress and be quite painful to touch.
Externally, the most common places for cutaneous (also sometimes called transcutaneous or percutaneous) include the mouth, hands, feet, and areas that tend to receive a lot of friction and sweating: the groin, the rear end, the armpits, and somewhere in the area between your armpits and your rear end.
Abscess Treatments
It’s important to seek professional medical care for an abscess, as the infection can ultimately spread to the blood stream. Your doctor will likely prescribe you antibiotics (or other appropriate defenses against the pathogen) to kill off the infection. Because of the way an abscess forms, it can be difficult for antibiotics to get into the scene of the infection. To counter this, your doctor will likely make a small incision to drain the pus out of the abscess. To prevent it from filling completely back up, a piece of gauze should be packed into the abscess. This allows new skin and tissue to grow; one end of the gauze is left on the outside so the skin doesn’t grow over the gauze, sealing it in.
Abscess Risk Factors
Although an abscess can form on just about anyone, some people are more likely than others to develop one. If you have had a staph infection before, chances are high that you carry the Staphylococcus bacteria, which means it is probably easier for you to develop an abscess.
Additionally, those with weaker than normal immune systems are more susceptible to the formation of an abscess, even from seemingly innocuous injuries. People affected by diabetes may have an affinity for developing abscesses. Certain inflammatory conditions, such as hidradenitis suppurativa, can also increase the chances of developing an abscess, according to the NHS. If you are among those populations who are more susceptible to abscesses, talk to your doctor about the best ways to prevent them.
