Abscesses are areas on the skin or inside the body that become infected, swell up and fill with pus. Abscesses can form anywhere on your body, but the majority form on the skin around your hair roots, where the root becomes infected. They can also appear in your mouth, at the bottom of your teeth, and other places inside your body, like your lungs or brain. A boil is also a kind of abscess. Abscesses can be really painful and you may need to have them removed by a doctor.

What causes abscess and who can get them?

Abscesses can develop for a number of reasons. Skin abscesses can come from small injuries to the skin, or when oil or sweat glands become blocked. Bacteria then gets into these glands and causes and infection. When you develop an infection, your immune system reacts by sending white blood cells to attack the bacteria. During the attack, some of the tissue around the infection dies off, leaving a small pit in the skin, where pus collects. Pus can be a green or yellow colour and may smell bad. It’s a mixture of dead white blood cells, dead tissue and the leftovers of the bacteria. People with cancer, AIDS or diabetes are more likely to get abscesses, but it’s possible for anyone to one.

What are the signs and symptoms of an abscess?

Your symptoms will depend on where on your body the abscess has developed. It might look like a sore or an open wound, or it might appear as a smooth bump under your skin. The area might also feel warm and appear reddish if you’ve got pale skin. A tooth abscess will probably give you pretty bad toothache and bad breath. Abscesses around your private parts (genitals) or organs like your brain or liver can be more difficult to identify. But if you have pain in the area and feel generally not right, with fever, chills and any aches or pains then this is a sign you may have an abscess.

How are they normally diagnosed and treated?

You will usually need a physical examination to diagnose skin abscesses and ones on your private parts. Internal abscesses are normally diagnosed by X-ray or a scan of the area. Most skin abscesses need treatment with antibiotics to kill the infection. However, you may need it punctured and drained by a doctor. If your abscess is inside the body, this will need more complicated treatment, usually involving an operation under a local anaesthetic.

Can they be prevented?

Keeping clean is one of the best ways of avoiding abscesses. It’s also a good idea to be careful when you’re shaving to avoid razor cuts and nicks. Young people are more likely to get tooth abscesses if they have a lot of sugary foods and drinks. Keep your teeth clean and see your dentist regularly.

When to ask for medical help

If you have a tooth abscess, your jaw and neck glands may become very swollen.  In this case you should get medical help straight away. Abscesses can also cause confusion and make you feel sleepy, if you have any mental health symptoms you need to seek medical help immediately.

Looking forward

Abscesses can usually be treated well but it’s important to get help as soon as you have symptoms. This is because quick treatment will stop the infection from spreading. If you have your abscess operated on, the wound should heal in about two weeks.

For more help and information

If you would like to know more about abscesses, please ask your doctor.

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: 2 May 2007

Copyright © Great Ormond Street Hospital