An abscess is a collection of sealed liquid tissue, known as pus, somewhere in the body. It is the result of the body's defense reaction against foreign bodies.
Description of Abscess
There are two types of abscesses, septic and sterile. Most abscesses are septic, which means that they are the result of infection. Septic abscesses can occur anywhere in the body. Only bacteria and the immune response is required. In response to bacteria, white blood cells gather at the infected site and begin producing chemicals called enzymes that attack bacteria by first mark and then digest it. This enzyme kills bacteria and destroy them into small pieces that can be run on the circulatory system before it gets removed from the body. Unfortunately, these chemicals also digest body tissues. In most cases, the bacteria produce similar chemicals. The result is a thick, yellow pus fluid containing the bacteria die, digested tissue, white blood cells, and enzymes.
An abscess is the last stage of a tissue infection that begins with a process called inflammation. Initially, such as bacteria activate the immune system, several events occur :
- Blood flow to the area increases.
- The temperature rise due to the increased blood supply.
- Region swells due to the accumulation of water, blood, and other fluids.
- Red.
- Feels pain, swelling and irritation of chemical activity.
These four signs ; heat, swelling, redness, and pain ; characteristics of inflammation.
As the process progresses, the tissue begins to turn into a liquid , and an abscess forms. It is the nature of an abscess to spread as the chemical digestion liquid more and more tissue. Furthermore, the spread following the path of least resistance, common, most easily digested tissue. A good example is an abscess just beneath the skin. Most easily be continued along the under surface rather than traveling through the outer layers or down through the deeper structures where it can drain the contents are toxic. Fill abscess can also leak into the general circulation and produce symptoms such as other infections. These include chills, fever, pain, and general discomfort.
Sterile abscesses are sometimes a milder form of the same process is not caused by bacteria, but by non - living irritants such as drugs. Such as sterile abscess because there is no infection involved. Sterile abscesses are quite likely to turn into hard, solid lumps as they scar, not the rest of the pockets of pus.
Causes and Symptoms of Abscess
Many different agents causing abscesses. The most common are the pus -forming (pyogenic) bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which is a common cause of abscesses under the skin. Abscesses near the large bowel, particularly around the anus, may be caused by bacteria that are found in the large intestine. Brain abscesses and liver abscesses can be caused by organisms that can walk there through the bloodstream. Bacteria, amoeba, and certain fungi can travel in this way. Abscesses in other parts of the body are caused by organisms that normally inhabit nearby structures or that infect them. Some common causes of specific abscesses are :
- Skin abscesses by normal skin flora.
- Dental and throat abscesses by mouth flora.
- Lung abscess air by normal flora, the bacteria that cause pneumonia or tuberculosis.
- Abdominal and anal abscesses by normal bowel flora.
A special kind of abscess
Listed below are some of the more common and important abscesses.
- Carbuncles and boils. Skin's oil glands ( sebaceous glands ) on the back or the back of the neck are the ones usually infected. The most frequently involved bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Acne is a similar condition involving the sebaceous glands on the face and back.
- Pilonidal cyst. Many people born disabled as a small hole in the skin just above the anus. Fecal bacteria can enter this opening, causing an infection and subsequent abscess.
- Retropharyngeal, parapharyngeal, peritonsillar abscess. As a result of a throat infection, such as strep throat and tonsillitis, bacteria can invade the deeper tissues of the throat and cause an abscess. These abscesses can compromise swallowing and even breathing.
- Lung abscess. During or after pneumonia, whether it is caused by bacteria (Common pneumonia), tuberculosis, fungi, parasites, or other bacteria, an abscess may develop as a complication.
- Liver abscess. Bacteria or amoeba from the intestines can spread through the blood to the liver and cause abscesses.
- Psoas abscess. Far in the back of the abdomen, on either side of the lumbar spine, the psoas muscle is located. They flex the hips. Abscesses can develop in one of the muscles, usually when it spreads from the appendix, colon, or fallopian tubes.