Abscess on the leg

General

An abscess is a collection of pus that is often just under the skin. This can occur on all parts of the body, but mainly forms on the hair roots, sebum or sweat glands. Particularly prone to this are places where there is a lot of sweat production in connection with constant friction.

The purulent settlement is primarily isolated and does not represent a particular risk of systemic disease; If the abscess is expressed or split unprofessionally, the pathogen can spread to the surrounding tissue and further infections can occur. Especially if it gets into the bloodstream, it can lead to a systemic infection and thus a potentially life-threatening clinical picture.

pus

pus consists dead cells of the body and out bacteria. In most cases, the bacteria are Staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus). At a abscess is the Accumulation of pus in the tissue by a thin membrane separated from the surrounding tissue and usually cannot spread like this.

Because pus is made up of bacteria, pus is contagious. In the case of an open abscess, dissemination should be sought by washing and disinfecting the hands a lot and covering the wound.

Causes of an abscess on the leg

An abscess on the leg can result from a variety of causes. In most cases, however, they are triggered by bacteria. Some bacteria are constantly on our skin; they are part of the normal human skin flora. However, due to various circumstances it can happen that the bacteria spread from the skin into deeper tissues and lead to an abscess there.
This happens through small wounds that often go unnoticed.
For example, through injections that are carried out without sufficient disinfection of the skin, or after surgery, such abscesses can occur. Even wounds that occur in everyday life, that are not disinfected or not sufficiently disinfected, and that get into dirt, can lead to an immigration of bacteria and promote an abscess.

People with a weak immune system, diabetes mellitus, and skin lesions or rashes are particularly prone to developing an abscess. Even tight clothing that is constantly chafing can lead to a wound that leads to an abscess. This is especially the case with men who have a lot of hair on their legs and in whom pants cause sensitive skin due to a lot of friction.

But an abscess can also develop regardless of the bacteria on the skin. This is the case, for example, with tuberculosis: here there is usually a focus of pus in the lungs, which can spread to other parts of the body when this closed area is opened.

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Symptoms of an abscess on the leg

In the case of a typical skin abscess on the leg, the redness, swelling and warming of the affected area are initially noticeable. This area is also very sensitive to pressure. In the further course, the accumulation of pus under the skin becomes larger and can be recognized as such. The accumulation of pus is usually much larger than that of a normal pimple.

In some cases, you may experience a fever and chills. Then the bacteria have often already spread in the body.

Diagnosis of a leg abscess

An abscess on the leg can usually be recognized by the noticeable and clear symptoms. To make sure that it is caused by bacteria, the doctor can take a smear of the pus.
An abscess can often be identified by a blood test. Then the number of white blood cells is increased and the so-called C-reactive protein is also increased (a marker for existing inflammation).

What to do with an abscess

In no case should you press on the abscess yourself. The risk of the bacteria spreading is very high here.
If the abscess has opened on its own, a plaster or bandage should be worn over it as the pus is contagious. Frequent hand washing is recommended. In the case of an abscess caused by bacteria, it is usually not enough for the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic, as the abscess is encapsulated and the antibiotic cannot fight the bacteria there.

In most cases, depending on the size of the abscess, a small or slightly larger operation is necessary.
The doctor opens the abscess with a small incision under local anesthesia and ensures that the pus can drain away. The inflamed tissue is removed and the wound is cleaned.
After the operation, the wound is not sewn up, but left open so that any newly formed pus can drain off directly. The wound is cleaned regularly and the bandage is changed.

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If the bacteria have already spread or if there is a risk of it, an additional antibiotic is added to prevent them from spreading throughout the body.

Read more on this topic at: Treatment of an abscess

Home remedies for an abscess

There are many home remedies that can help with abscesses in general.
Low-fat quark works against inflammation and can be wrapped in a thin cloth and placed on the abscess. Thyme or tea tree oil can also be added to warm, boiled water and applied as a compress to the affected area to alleviate the symptoms.

A compress with cooled chamomile or nettle tea can also help to counteract the inflammation. Chopped onions and garlic should also help if heated and wrapped in a cloth. A pressed white cabbage leaf that is heated also has a soothing effect on the abscess.

The prognosis for an abscess on the leg

If the abscess has been completely removed during the operation, the further course is favorable. The wound must grow over by itself, this can take a few weeks depending on the size. Daily cleaning and dressing changes are very important to keep the wound from becoming infected.
However, if the pathogens have already spread and settled in other parts of the body, the treatment may take longer.

Complications from an abscess

Especially when trying to express the abscess yourself, it can happen that the abscess opens inward and the bacteria get into the blood. This can have serious consequences including blood poisoning (sepsis) and should therefore be avoided.
But even after an operation has been carried out, complications can arise, for example if the wound is not cleaned thoroughly every day and if it grows closed. Then inflammation and abscess may develop again.