What Are the Common Symptoms of an Abscess?

An abscess is a localized accumulation of pus in tissues, organs or body cavities due to necrosis and liquefaction of diseased tissues during an acute infection. There is a complete pus wall all around. A common pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. Abscesses may originate from acute suppurative infections, or may be transferred from pathogenic bacteria from distant primary infections via blood flow or lymphatic vessels.

Basic Information

Chinese name: Abscess
the reason: Lesions during infection

Common pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus
which performed: Redness, swelling, heat, pain

Introduction to Abscess Diseases

Abscesses are often caused by inflammatory tissues necrosis and dissolution under the action of toxins or enzymes produced by bacteria, forming a pus cavity. The exudate in the cavity, necrotic tissue, pus cells and bacteria together form pus. Because the fibrin in the pus formed a reticular scaffold, the lesion was localized, and congestion and edema around the pus cavity and infiltration of white blood cells were observed. The resulting granulation tissue is mainly hyperplasia of the pus cavity wall. Abscesses can have different clinical manifestations due to their location. The disease can often be diagnosed by understanding the medical history, clinical examination and necessary auxiliary examinations. The main treatment is drainage.

Clinical manifestations of abscess

1. Superficial abscesses are slightly higher than the body surface, redness, swelling, heat, pain and fluctuation. Small abscesses, deep in position, and thick cavity walls, the sensation of fluctuation may not be obvious.

2. Deep abscesses generally do not have a sense of fluctuation, but the surface tissue of the abscess often has edema and obvious local tenderness, accompanied by symptoms of systemic poisoning.

Differential diagnosis of abscess

Diagnose based on

1. Superficial: Abscesses show localized redness, swelling, heat, pain, and tenderness, followed by a sense of fluctuation.

2. Deep: Abscesses are local diffuse swelling, pain and tenderness, and the fluctuations are not obvious. The test puncture can extract pus and can also be used for ultrasound consultation.

Abscess disease treatment

Abscess treatment principles

1. Incision and drainage in time. The incision should be selected at a place with obvious fluctuations and parallel to the skin texture. The incision should be long enough and low to facilitate drainage. Deep abscesses should be punctured and localized, and then cut open layer by layer.

2. Change the dressing in time after the operation.

3. The whole body should be treated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. If the wound does not heal for a long time, the cause should be identified.