Abscess

Summary

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Amebic liver abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Anorectal abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Bartholin cyst or abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Brain abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Epidural abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Indium-labelled WBC scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Intra-abdominal abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Pancreatic abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Perirenal abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Peritonsillar abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Pilonidal cyst resection Medical Encyclopedia
• Pyogenic liver abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Retropharyngeal abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Subareolar abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Tooth abscess Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Abscess VisualDX
• Retropharyngeal Abscess (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Treating Pilonidal Cysts (Gips Procedure) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Start Here

• Abscess VisualDX
• Skin Abscesses Nemours Foundation

Specifics

• Abscess in the Lungs Merck & Co., Inc.
• Anal Abscess and Fistula American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Folliculitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Peritonsillar Abscess American Academy of Family Physicians

Encyclopedia

• Actinomycosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Brain herniation Medical Encyclopedia
• Pulmonary aspergilloma Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin lesion aspiration Medical Encyclopedia
• Spinal cord abscess Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Bartholin’s Gland Cyst American Academy of Family Physicians
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
• Pilonidal Cyst Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Diagnosis and Tests

• CT Enterography Radiological Society of North America
• MR Enterography Radiological Society of North America

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Treatments and Therapies

• Percutaneous Abscess Drainage Radiological Society of North America

Teenagers

• Peritonsillar Abscess (For Teens) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Abscess