Abscess is a collection of pus. Pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria (germs). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria. Certain bacteria are more likely to be 'pus forming' as they make toxins (chemicals) that can damage the body's tissues. These include: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection causes the immune system to activate white blood cells and chemicals to fight the bacteria. In this 'battle' some tissue dies. A cavity forms and fills with pus. The cavity becomes bigger if the infection continues.

It may be in 1 to 6 inches diameter. There is no need of antibiotics when skin abscess completely drained. It can appear in the liver, vagina, brain, anus and tonsils.

Abscesses may occur most frequently on skin surface, in the lungs, brain, kidneys and tonsils. The abscess can prevent deeper tissues from functioning properly. The infection may spread locally or throughout the body. The spread of infection through the bloodstream may cause severe complications. Major complications are spreading of the abscess material to adjacent or remote tissues and extensive regional tissue death. The cardinal symptoms and signs of any kind of inflammatory process are redness, heat, swelling and pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Skin abscess

bscesses affect people of all ages. The cardinal symptoms and signs of skin abscess are redness, heat, swelling and pain. Abscesses may occur in any kind of solid tissue but most frequently on skin surface, in the lungs, brain, kidneys and tonsils. Skin abscesses may occur anywhere on the body. The infection may spread locally or systemically. The spread of infection through the bloodstream may cause severe complications.

Sign and symptoms may include the following:

Weight loss.

Fever & chills.

Tender and warm affected area

Loss of appetite.

Skin lesion.

Treatment of Skin Abscess

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. The doctor may cut and drain the abscess to clean the area and control the infection. Antibiotics are given to control the infection.

Heat (such as warm compresses) may speed healing, reduce inflammation, and make the area feel better. Raise the affected part to reduce swelling and inflammation.

The health care provider may clean and dry the affected area. He may drain the skin abscess to reduce the infection. Apply dicloxacillin to the affected area. Warm compresses may remove the affected area and reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. Take antibiotics for treatment of skin abscess. Cut large size of abscess to allow drains the pus. Hepar sulphuris and Silica are homeopathic remedies to treat the skin abscesses. Use bentonite clay on the affected area in case of septic abscesses.

Antibiotics are usually prescribed and the pus usually needs to be drained away. For a skin abscess, this involves an small operation to cut the top of the skin and allow the pus to drain. A scar will form as the skin heals. A more sophisticated operation is needed to drain an abscess from inside the body. The techniques vary, depending on the site of the abscess.

Other Treatments

The treatment of first choice is the surgical drainage of the abscess.

Warm compresses and elevation of the limb may be beneficial for skin abscess.

To heal an abscess, it is recommended to have plenty of bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, and either apply ice packs or take hot baths to alleviate the pain.

Antibiotics such as dicloxacillin are given to control the infection.

Use bentonite clay on the affected area in case of septic abscesses.

Small abscesses may be helped by applying warm compresses to the area several times a day. This will sometimes promote spontaneous drainage of the abscess.

The doctor may cut and drain the abscess to clean the area and control the infection. Antibiotics are given to control the infection.

Fever medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be given by mouth or in your rectum to lower your temperature.

Pain medicine may be given as a shot or by mouth. If the pain does not subside or comes back, call your doctor. Normally pain does not remain long.

Keep the place where drainage is operated as dry as possible. Several medicines can also be taken by mouth or injected to make things normal.