An abscess is a painful collection of pus that is caused by a bacterial infection.
Types of abscess
There are a number of different types of abscess including:
- skin abscesses
- internal abscesses
- dental abscesses
- brain abscesses
- Bartholin’s abscesses
- liver abscesses
- skin abscesses
- spinal cord abscesses
- anorectal abscesses
- peritonsillar abscesses
This article focuses on skin abscesses and internal abscesses, which develop inside the body. The other types of abscess are described briefly in the box, below left.
How common are abscesses?
Anyone can develop an abscess, and they can occur almost anywhere in the body.
In most cases, skin abscesses affect people who are otherwise well. They are caused by an infection in the root of a hair or by a blocked sweat gland. Skin abscesses are more common in people with diabetes.
Internal abscesses often develop as a complication of an existing condition, such as an abscess in the tonsils after having acute (severe) tonsillitis. This rare condition is known as quinsy.
People who have an underlying health condition or damage to their immune system are more likely to be affected by internal abscesses.
Outlook
A small skin abscess may drain naturally and disappear without any treatment.
Larger abscesses can be treated with antibiotics to clear the infection and surgery to drain away the pus. Without treatment, an abscess may continue to get larger and more painful until it eventually bursts.
Glossary
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines that can be used to treat infections caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria or fungi. Examples of antibiotics include amoxicillin, streptomycin and erythromycin.
Immune system
The immune system is the body's defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.
Last updated: 16 January 2012
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