An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight it. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is the buildup of fluid, living and dead white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria or other foreign substances.
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.
- Abscess(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/abscess.htm
- Abdominal Abscesses(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch132/ch132b.html
- Anal Abscess/Fistula(American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons) - http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_abscess_fistula/
- Brain Abscess(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9397.html
- Kidney (Renal) Abscess(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=02&topic=118
- Peritonsillar Abscess(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9399.html
- Boils and Carbuncles(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/boils-and-carbuncles/DS00466/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Felon(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9989.html
- Boils (Furunculosis)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/furunculosis.htm
- Article: An interesting case of acute abdomen. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18923196&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Novel technique for peritonsillar abscess drainage. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18834063&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Hypermanganesemia, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, brain abscess: the hepatic connection. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18824676&tool=MedlinePlus
- Abscesses -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(abscess[majr]+NOT+periodontal+abscess[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Abscess(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/child/abscess.htm
- Infectious Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infectiousdiseases.html
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Abscesses is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/