Symptoms of an abscess

introduction

Abscesses can cause a variety of symptoms. Depending on the severity and parts of the body, these are easier or more difficult to recognize and differentiate from other diseases. Because abscesses are caused by bacteria, pus and signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, warming, and pain, are characteristic. In some cases, however, not all symptoms occur.

Only a doctor can assess the severity of an abscess and the appropriate treatment. Any abscess should be examined by a family doctor. If a fever occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately as there is a risk of blood poisoning. If a red stripe is observed on the skin up to the heart, an emergency doctor must be called immediately.

Pus in abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus. The pus contains bacteria, dead cells and defense cells of the body's immune system. This collection of pus takes up space. This creates an abscess cavity, which is usually surrounded by a capsule. As long as the capsule is present, the surrounding healthy tissue is excluded and spared.

The pus can be just under the skin, under the mucous membranes or on organs. At a certain point in time, the pus has to emerge so that the abscess is relieved. The doctor can take a smear of the pus and thereby determine the pathogen. Most of the time, staphylococci, a type of bacteria, are found in the collection of pus.

Often there is the in the pus Staphylococcus aureus to find. If pus and thus bacteria get into the blood, there is a risk of blood poisoning.

Most common symptoms of an abscess

Pain

An abscess can appear with or without pain. In the course of the inflammatory process, certain endogenous messenger substances are released. Through this the cells can communicate with each other and they can activate certain pain receptors.

The sensory perception of pain is reported to the brain after various cell-mediated processes. How strong this is is very individual. The pain usually correlates with the size and shape of the abscess.

Blood poisoning

An abscess that is not treated carries the risk of blood poisoning. This is life-threatening and must be treated by an emergency doctor. A fever is a sign that the bacteria has entered the bloodstream. A red streak on the skin towards the heart indicates advanced blood poisoning. Drowsiness, shock and circulatory failure can occur.

Read more about this under: Blood poisoning

fever

A fever associated with an abscess is always a sign that the bacteria have entered the bloodstream. If you have a fever, you should always consult a doctor. This fever can vary in height and severity, or it may be less severe.

You may also be interested in the following article: Causes of fever

hardening

In some cases, the pus doesn't flow on its own. This can lead to a hardening that is usually palpable. In terms of differential diagnosis, one must think of boils, which express themselves as hard nodules.

The following topic may also be of interest to you: Abscess or boil

Redness

The inflammatory processes often result in the classic inflammation sign of redness. It is a sign of increased blood flow that is needed so that the bacteria can be fought at the cellular level. The degree of redness can vary widely.

Symptoms on the tooth

An abscessed wisdom tooth can lead to an abscess. In this case one speaks of a peritonsillar abscess. This manifests itself with pain, swelling and reddening of the mucous membrane and sometimes the cheek is also affected and swollen. The pain can radiate into surrounding areas.

If pus leaks, there may be an unpleasant taste and smell from the mouth. In addition, a diseased tooth in the lower jaw can trigger an abscess of the floor of the mouth (tongue base abscess). This abscess is localized differently from the peritonsillar abscess, but the symptoms are similar. In both cases, food intake may be restricted.

You might also be interested in the following article in this context: Abscess in the mouth

Symptoms in the anus

The symptoms of an abscess on the anus resemble the characteristic symptoms as in other parts of the body. The typical signs of inflammation appear: reddening, warming, swelling and pain. The pain can vary in severity. Sitting is often painful.

In addition, pressure - such as when defecating - can lead to increased pain. This is also the reason why an abscess on the anus takes longer to heal. Because the wound is in constant contact with stool, it can heal more slowly.

In addition, it is difficult for the person concerned to treat the abscess independently due to its location. As a result, the symptoms and healing time take longer. Particularly with an anus abscess, meticulous hygiene and a lot of patience are required. Symptoms can last for weeks.

The following article provides extensive information about abscesses in the anus area: Anal abscess

Symptoms on the neck

In addition to the usual symptoms of an abscess, swollen lymph nodes often occur with a neck abscess. These are usually located along the head turner muscle and can be painful to touch / pressure.

For more information on this topic, the editors recommend the following article: Neck abscess

Symptoms on the jaw

A jaw abscess is often symptom-free in the early stages. If left untreated, it will usually continue to grow. In this phase, the patient usually complains of a swollen oral mucosa and / or cheek. The swelling is often heated, painful, and red.

From a certain size it breaks into the neighbors' tissue. The pus is drained here. If this leaks into the oral cavity, it can produce an unpleasant smell and taste. Depending on whether the upper or lower jaw is affected, different additional symptoms can occur.

If it is a maxillary abscess, the upper part of the face and eyes may be swollen, red and warm. The cheeks, temples, forehead and eyes can also hurt. If the swelling is pronounced, the opening of the eyes and thus visual performance can be impaired.

In the case of a mandibular abscess, there may be difficulties opening the mouth. Swallowing and eating can be difficult. Weight loss can occur. There can also be hypersensitivity to touch, brushing teeth and sometimes even to a draft.

The pain can radiate towards the ear and chin. As a result, eating and speaking can be difficult. The abscess on the jaw can also press on surrounding nerves and muscles.

This can lead to sensory disorders such as numbness and unpleasant tingling, as well as further restrictions on movement. In addition, a general feeling of sickness and fatigue can plague the patient. Even with a jaw abscess, fever is a warning signal that indicates possible blood poisoning.

Chest symptoms

A breast abscess can have the typical symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness, and warming. The swelling of the chest can cause tension pain. Depending on where exactly the abscess is located on the chest, it can sometimes cause extreme pain.

The swelling of the breast can also restrict arm mobility. In addition, the lymph nodes in the armpit are often swollen (see also: Swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit) and painful when pressed / touched. Headaches and body aches can also occur.

A breast abscess can also develop without any external discomfort. In these cases, the women often report a feeling of tightness in the chest and the feeling that something is wrong.

Symptoms on the tonsils

An abscess that develops on the tonsils usually develops as part of a purulent tonsillitis. Symptoms are mostly severe pain, both in the region of the palatine arches and the pharynx wall, as well as radiating in the area of ​​the throat and ear. Patients often complain of difficulty swallowing.

In addition, lumpy speech, difficult mouth opening, bad breath and painful and difficult food intake can be typical complaints. A fever can also occur. One differentiates between an abscess in the context of tonsillitis Peritonsillar abscess of a Parapharyngeal abscess.

The latter abscess is less common. With this there is the risk of spreading it to the chest area and can damage the organs there, such as the lungs and heart.