What is an abscess?
Q: What is an abscess?
A: An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body.
Q: What are some signs and symptoms of an abscess?
A: Signs and symptoms of an abscess include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The area of redness is often bigger than the area of swelling.
Q: What causes an abscess?
A: An abscess is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Rarely parasites can cause abscesses and this is more common in the developing world.
Q: How is a skin abscess diagnosed?
A: Diagnosis of a skin abscess is usually made based on what it looks like and can be proved by cutting it open. Ultrasound imaging may also be used if the diagnosis isn't clear. In cases around the anus, computer tomography (CT) may be important to look for deeper infection.
Q: How do you treat a skin or soft tissue abscsss?
A: Treatment for most skin or soft tissue abscsses involves cutting it open and draining out the pus. Antibiotics are usually not needed for healthy people, but new studies have found that closing the wound after draining instead of packing with gauze can speed healing without increasing risk of return. Sometimes simply sucking out pus with a needle isn't enough.
Q: How common are skin abscsses?
A: Skin abscsses are very common and have become even more so in recent years - as many as 65% of people who take intravenous drugs get them - 3.2 million people went to emergency departments in 2005 in America alone, while Australia saw 13,000 hospitalisations due to this disease in 2008 alone
