National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Abscess is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Abscess
An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.
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.
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- Abscess(Logical Images)
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Overviews
- Abscess(Nemours Foundation)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- CT Enterography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- MR Enterography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Treatment
- Percutaneous Abscess Drainage(Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
- Abdominal Abscesses(Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Abscess in the Lungs(Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Anal Abscess/Fistula(American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons)
- Brain Abscess(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Folliculitis and Skin Abscesses(Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Kidney (Renal) Abscess(Urology Care Foundation)
- Peritonsillar Abscess(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Tooth Abscess(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Related Issues
- Bartholin's Gland Cyst(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Felon(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Pilonidal Cyst(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Organizations
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Children
- Abscess(Logical Images)
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Teenagers
- Peritonsillar Abscess(Nemours Foundation)
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Patient Handouts
- Abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Abscess scan - radioactive
- Also available in Spanish
- Amebic liver abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Anorectal abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Bartholin's abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Brain abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Epidural abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Intra-abdominal abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Pancreatic abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Perirenal abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Pyogenic liver abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Skin abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Subareolar abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Tooth abscess
- Also available in Spanish
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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
