An abscess is a purulent-inflammatory disease, distinctive feature which is the melting of tissues with the formation of a cavity. Translated from Latin, abscessus means “abscess.” The pathological process has general and local manifestations and can be either an independent illness or a complication of other diseases or injuries. He requires mandatory treatment in a hospital setting due to the high risk of developing consequences.
Concept and general features
An abscess is a purulent focus limited by a capsule of healthy tissue. This is the body’s protective reaction to a pathological process. An abscess is characterized by damage to absolutely any tissue, but most often it forms on the skin and in soft tissues, less often - in internal organs.
Regardless of the location of the abscess, its symptoms are similar. Symptoms of the disease:
An abscess of internal organs is characterized by general symptoms with virtually no local signs.
The intensity of the manifestations of the disease depends on certain factors:
- the size of the abscess and its location;
- pathogen;
- body reactions.
Classification and reasons
The formation of pus is typical for any abscess. But subject to availability infectious process secrete an abscess:
- Infectious. The culprits of the disease are microorganisms (staphylococcus, streptococcus, intestinal, pseudomonas, Koch's bacillus or a community of various microbes). The formation of an abscess in soft tissues in 25% of cases is caused by staphylococcus.
- Aseptic. Does not depend on exposure to bacteria. It develops against the background of the introduction of various drugs (Cordiamin) or chemical substances(kerosene). This type of abscess is called post-injection.
Depending on the nature of the disease, there are 2 forms:
- Spicy. The capsule includes one layer connective tissue.
- Chronic. This form of abscess develops as a result incomplete emptying contents of the capsule with repeated suppuration. It has 2 layers - granulation and connective.
The acute process is characterized by general somatic disorders (fever, muscle pain, weakness). Local manifestations depend on the location of the abscess and its proximity to the skin (the closer it is, the more intense the symptoms). For chronic course Less pronounced local and general symptoms are typical.
Main causes of pathology:
- Penetration of the pathogen into the body from external environment(dirt in an open wound, injections).
- Agent hit from internal environment(spread of microorganisms from the affected area to other organs through the blood and lymph flow).
Types depending on location
An abscess can develop in any tissue or organ. Therefore, there are many types of diseases.
Common Locations pathological process:
- Soft fabrics.
- Internal organs.
- Oral cavity.
- Throat and others.
An abscess can also act as a secondary disease, that is, be a complication of the underlying disease.
Superficial
A soft tissue abscess is an inflammation that affects muscle tissue, skin and subcutaneous fat with the formation of a cavity filled with pus. The reason is the penetration of microorganisms (in particular, staphylococcus) through skin damaged as a result of injury, frostbite, and burns.
Main locations of inflammation:
- face and neck;
- buttocks;
- right and left thigh.
The development of abscesses on the cheeks, infraorbital and parotid areas, in the chin and jaw area is a common phenomenon. Causes:
- violation of the integrity of the skin with subsequent infection;
- complications of other diseases (especially dental ones).
Clinical picture when similar pathologies the brightest. This is due to the presence in the skin of the face and neck large quantity vessels (lymphatic and circulatory), lymph nodes and nerve endings.
Symptoms:
- intense pain;
- swelling;
- difficulty opening the mouth;
- chewing disorder;
- inflammation of regional lymph nodes;
- facial asymmetry.
There are 3 types of abscess on the buttock:
- Post-traumatic.
- Post-injection.
- An abscess after an infection.
They can be triggered by various reasons:
Stages of development of post-injection abscess:
- Pain at the injection site.
- Hyperemia and swelling of the skin.
- Increase in local temperature.
- Development of infiltrate, and then a cavity with pus.
- Release of contents outward or inward.
Abscesses of internal organs and other localizations
An abscess can develop in absolutely any organ. This is especially true for parenchymal (not having a cavity).
Recognizing the disease is much more difficult than an external abscess. Symptoms boil down to signs of general poisoning (malaise, fever) and pain at the site of pathology. The following organs may be affected:
| Localization | Description and features | Causes | Symptoms |
| Liver abscess |
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| Spleen abscess |
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| Pancreatic abscess | The disease develops 10–21 days after acute attack pancreatitis | Acute pancreatitis |
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| Kidney abscess |
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| Lung abscess |
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| Brain abscess | Brain abscess is secondary disease, that is, a complication of the underlying pathology |
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| Appendiceal abscess | This is a purulent process in the peritoneum. Is a complication of the underlying disease | Acute appendicitis |
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| Peritonsillar abscess |
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| Parapharyngeal abscess |
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| Retropharyngeal abscess |
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| Abscess of Douglas pouch |
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| Tuboovarian abscess | A purulent process involving tissue melted by inflammation fallopian tube and ovary | Long-term inflammation of the uterine appendages |
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| Tooth abscess | Purulent formation of the area alveolar processes upper jaw and alveolar part of the mandible |
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| Periandibular abscess |
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| Tongue abscess |
| Trauma to the mucous membrane of an organ with sharp objects |
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| Abscess of the palate | Purulent formation in the soft or hard palate |
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| Brodie's intraosseous abscess |
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| Education purulent focus in prostate tissue |
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| Subperiosteal abscess | Purulent inflammation of the eye wall as a result of damage to the paranasal sinuses |
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Diagnostics
An abscess is detected using several diagnostic methods. These include:
- Examination by a specialist, including palpation (feeling the affected area).
- Collection of medical history and complaints.
- Laboratory testing of blood and urine.
- Instrumental methods.
When examining superficial abscesses, redness of the skin and a symptom of fluctuation are determined - obvious signs of pathology.
When identifying internal abscesses, instrumental diagnostic methods are needed. For this we use:
- Organ examination gastrointestinal tract using a contrast agent.
- Survey radiography.
- CT scan.
- Bronchoscopy (for lung abscess).
- TRUS - transrectal (through the rectum) ultrasonography(with abscess prostate gland) and others.
Among laboratory methods diagnostics are used:
- Taking blood for general and biochemical analysis.
- General urine analysis.
- A biopsy to differentiate an abscess from the breakdown of a malignant tumor.
- Bacteriological examination of a sample of pus to identify the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs.
The presence of a purulent focus in a specific organ is established using the necessary methods and is confirmed by indicators. Some of them:
| Localization of the abscess | Diagnostic methods | Photo |
| Lung abscess |
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CT scan |
| Prostate abscess |
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| Liver abscess |
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CT scan |
| Tuboovarian abscess |
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| Subperiosteal abscess |
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Treatment
The main method of treating an abscess is surgery. It is carried out only after a purulent focus has formed. It includes:
- Opening an abscess. The operation is performed under local anesthesia if the abscess is superficial and located close to the skin. In other cases, general anesthesia is recommended.
- Removal of pus and dead tissue.
- Rinsing the cavity with a disinfectant solution (3% hydrogen peroxide, then chlorhexidine or Miramistin).
- Installation of drainage for drainage of pus.
Opening a retropharyngeal abscess
Antibacterial treatment is prescribed in postoperative period or at the infiltration stage and involves the use of broad-spectrum drugs.
Detoxification and immunostimulating therapies are often used.
Treatment of an abscess is carried out in a medical facility. An attempt to eliminate the disease at home is fraught with complications and sometimes death.
Complications and prevention
An abscess can cause various complications, life-threatening:
- Vein thrombosis.
- Encephalitis.
- Sepsis is blood infection resulting from pus and pathogenic microflora.
- Phlegmon is a breakthrough of an abscess into the surrounding tissues with the development of diffuse (no boundaries) purulent inflammation.
- Violation of the functions of vital organs.
- Bacteremia - introduction pathogenic microorganisms into the bloodstream and distribute them throughout all systems of the body.
- Development of the chronic course of the disease.
- Breakthrough of the abscess into closed cavities. It is dangerous for the development of pleurisy, pericarditis, peritonitis, meningitis and other pathologies.
- Arrosive bleeding is bleeding into internal organs.
Preventive actions:
- Sanitation of chronic foci of infection.
- Treatment of skin damage.
- Following the rules for performing injections.
- Compliance with hygiene standards.
- Healthy lifestyle.
- Pay attention to your health, including timely seeking help at the first signs of illness.
The prognosis for superficial abscesses is usually favorable. In the case of pathology of internal organs, everything depends on timely diagnosis and adequate treatment. For example, with a single liver abscess the risk of death is 20-40%, with multiple abscesses of the organ it is higher.
- Date: 04/30/2019
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Many people are interested in an abscess, what is it and why is it dangerous? An abscess (lat. abscessus) is a type of infection that causes a limited inflammatory process within the soft tissue with necrosis. A mature abscess is characterized by the presence of dense purulent contents, which are surrounded by the so-called pyogenic membrane. This shell consists of connective tissue.
What are the causes of the disease
Abscesses can form as a result bacterial infection, and also due to the presence foreign body(eg shrapnel, bullets, needles) in the skin.
The formation of abscesses is a protective reaction of tissues, the purpose of which is to prevent the spread of infection throughout the body. Foreign bodies or organisms that exceed the skin barrier destroy surrounding cells, resulting in the production of cytokines. It is these protein molecules that initiate an immune response, which leads to the accumulation of a large number of white blood cells in the affected area, and blood flow to that area increases. At the final stage of abscess formation, it is surrounded by a wall or capsule, which protects the surrounding healthy tissue of purulent contents and prevents infection from spreading to nearby structures.
To find out which bacterium is etiological factor, the location of the abscess is determined first. It depends mainly on whether we are dealing with an abscess localized within the membranes of the body, or with an abscess located in deep tissues:
Superficial abscesses (on the skin) are a complication of skin infection and subcutaneous tissue. In this case, the most common reasons are bacteria that usually occur on the skin.
Abscesses located in deep tissues of the body can be the result of:
- physiological disruption of the “intestinal barrier”, which protects against the penetration of bacteria that make up the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract;
- proliferation of hematogenous bacteria;
- spread of bacteria along with lymph;
- trauma penetrating deep tissues;
- complications of genitourinary tract infection.
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To summarize, the most common types of bacteria underlying abscesses are:
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- Streptococcus pyogenes;
- gram-negative Escherichia coli belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family;
- anaerobic cocci - Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus;
- gram-negative anaerobic rods— Bacteroides.
Education mechanism
An abscess is an example of purulent inflammation in which primary symptom is the presence of inflammatory exudate in it - a yellowish, thick liquid containing numerous dead or dying neutrophil granulocytes along with the remains of dead tissue. Pus contains high concentration lytic enzymes that were released from dead neutrophil granulocytes, destroyed cells of this tissue, as well as bacteria.
The abscess may have chronic nature development. In this case, the abscess does not heal and exists on its own. The connective tissue bag created by inflammation limits the penetration of both immune system cells and antibiotics. Therefore, every case of abscess, after it has reached a suitable degree of maturity, must be evacuated surgically.
Symptoms of pustules on the skin
The severity of inflammation in patients associated with an abscess primarily depends on the location of the source of the disease.
In the case of superficial localization of the abscess (within the skin) initial stage its development can be identified local symptoms, such as:
- painful swelling of the skin and nearby tissues;
- redness of the area;
- Microscopically, you can see the convex relief of the skin, which is soft to the touch centrally and hard around the circumference.
As the abscess matures, a purulent formation can be felt by palpation. The skin in the changed area becomes thinner, more shiny and tense, and acquires White color. Often in the mature stage of the abscess it comes to spontaneous emptying.
However, if the abscess is localized within deep tissues, organs and body cavities, symptoms of dermatitis appear later or may not occur at all. In this case, the patient often has chills and high temperature bodies. The patient usually reports localized pain and malaise. His general condition may be serious.
Diagnosis of the disease
In the case of superficially located changes, making a diagnosis does not present any difficulties for the doctor. If the abscess is deeper, ultrasonography (US) will be helpful in diagnosing it.
With its help, you can identify the so-called abscess cavity, surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and filled with pus. If ultrasound does not give a clear result, you can perform computed tomography(CT).
In some cases, a diagnostic puncture of the abscess cavity with collection of aspirated material may be appropriate.
Therapeutic measures
An abscess can occur in soft tissue and bone. It most often forms on the skin (in its superficial or deep layers), but can also form in the lungs, brain, teeth, kidneys and tonsils.
The most serious complication of abscesses is their spread to adjacent and even distant tissues. As a result, this can lead to local tissue necrosis and gangrene.
It rarely happens that pustules heal on their own, so their appearance should force the patient to see a doctor.
How to treat an abscess? There is no other effective way treatment of an abscess rather than surgical incision and drainage of its cavity. The operation can be performed under general anesthesia(in the case of abscesses located in deep tissues) or local (most often with abscesses of the skin surface). Surgical opening of the abscess is performed at the very top of the convexity of the changed skin. If evacuation of the contents of the abscess cavity has not occurred, aspiration of purulent fluid under pressure is performed.
Drainage, drainage
Free outflow of purulent contents can be obtained by making incisions on opposite sides of the wall of the abscess cavity. After rinsing the cavity with hydrogen peroxide or another antiseptic liquid specially designed for this purpose, special drains (most often made of latex or other plastic with small holes - perforations) are inserted into the skin incisions. They allow further washing of the abscess bed. With the help of these tubes, the unhindered outflow of the resulting pus is possible.
An abscess can also be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy is only a kind of addition to surgery. Its implementation is justified in all cases in which there is a possibility of generalization of infection, for example:
- in diabetics;
- in patients who have undergone treatment with immunosuppressive drugs;
- in patients with decreased immunity associated with HIV infection;
- if the abscess is located in the face, anus or perineum.
In case of changes located within the limbs, positive effect brings them elevation (elevation) and immobilization. This allows you to reduce tissue swelling and minimize the discomfort and pain felt by the patient, which speeds up the healing process.
Therapy for boils
After the first symptoms of inflammation appear at home, you can apply hot compress(warm damp cloth or warming pillow) for 20-30 minutes. Sometimes the procedure needs to be repeated for 5-7 days for the pus to come out of the capsule, and another 3 days after the abscess contents come out. The affected area of skin must be secured (with a bandage or bandage) to prevent secondary infection from occurring. Forms of treatment warm compresses you can diversify. The substances included in the compresses below speed up the healing process of the abscess. To treat small abscesses at home, use:
- gruel made from warm milk, bread and burdock;
- paste of turmeric and water;
- warm compresses of table salt;
- crushed cumin seeds soaked in hot water;
- washing the inflamed area of skin with heated tea tree oil;
- hot slice of tomato;
- heated petal raw onion, juice or onion cream;
- garlic;
- chopped cabbage leaves;
- aloe pulp;
- a bag of black tea.
To speed up the process of removing pus from the inflamed area, you can use a compress made from a solution of magnesium and silicon sulfate at home.
Over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve painful symptoms.
Incision at home
If a pus-filled head appears without simultaneous symptoms of a general infection, you can puncture the top of the abscess with an antiseptic needle and then squeeze out its contents. However, squeezing on your own can cause a general infection, and a safer option is to see a doctor.
An absolute contraindication for incision of an abscess is its location in the nasal cavity and on upper lip— these forms of furunculosis are treated with antibiotics.
Necessary strict adherence hygiene and use antibacterial soap. This is especially important for people with a tendency to form furunculosis. In these cases, it is better not to attempt self-medication and consult a doctor.
Infection control
Prevent the spread of infection by:
- cover the sore spot with the already mentioned bandage or plaster;
- use a shower instead of a bath;
- Wash your hands thoroughly after each dressing change, especially before preparing food, as staphylococci can cause foodborne infections;
- Separate the patient's clothes from the clothes of other family members.
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At timely treatment abscesses and correctly performed surgical intervention the percentage of complications is minimal.
Abscess - surgical disease, to avoid unwanted complications, you should consult a doctor at the first sign.
Abscess, abscess And abscess– this is a limited purulent inflammation with melting of the adjacent soft tissues and the formation of a cavity filled with pus. Unlike the more formidable phlegmon, in which purulent fusion of tissues is observed without a clear delineation of the focus of tissue decay; with abscesses, ulcers and abscesses, the boundary between the focus and healthy tissues on the body. This is their auspiciousness.
But nevertheless it has great importance in the prognosis of the outcome and complications of the disease, the localization (location) of the abscess. As you will see further in the text of the article.
How and with what to treat and cure an abscess, abscess and abscess
I want you to understand me correctly from the very beginning that treating ulcers and abscesses at home folk remedies You can't lead! An abscess, for example on a finger near the nail bed, can still be dealt with with home remedies.
Causes of ulcers, abscesses and boils
The development of abscesses, ulcers and abscesses can lead to:
- penetration of pathogenic microflora through damaged skin,
- or internal introduction of infection due to infectious diseases.
The development of an abscess and abscess depends on the condition:
- the body's immune system,
- virulence (degree of pathogenicity) of the pathogen,
- specificity of the source of introduction.
An abscess can form:
- under the skin,
- in the lungs
- in the liver,
- kidneys,
- throat,
- tonsils,
- appendicular process of the cecum,
- even brain tissue.
Often an abscess is a complication of infectious diseases:
- osteomyelitis,
Ulcers can be:
- single,
- multiple,
- large,
- small.
An abscess also occurs:
- sharp,
- chronic.
Abscesses or abscesses of soft tissue can also occur as a result of bruises, but usually this is an internal infection due to a weakening of the body’s protective mechanisms.
Complications of abscess and abscess
The prognosis of the course and outcome of the disease depends on:
- localization places,
- hearth size,
- on the degree of body resistance.
The formed abscess bursts:
- out,
- into hollow organs
- into natural body cavities.
When an abscess breaks inside, the following may develop:
- peritonitis,
- purulent pleurisy,
- blood poisoning
- other.
When the abscess empties outward, long-term non-healing ulcers appear on the surface of the skin, in the place of which rough scars form.
When examining the affected area, in cases where an abscess or abscess is localized under the skin, swelling and redness are observed, depending on the severity of the disease - swelling, compaction of adjacent tissues and pain when palpated.
Treating boils at home
Treatment of small abscesses at home using folk remedies alternative medicine possible only with favorable localization of the abscess or small abscess close to the surface of the skin. The following medicinal plants are used.
Aloe arborescens – Agave
Aloe juice is used in the form of medicinal dressings, irrigations, and lotions. Aloe leaf pulp is often used, applied to the abscess site under a bandage for 10–12 hours, then the bandage is changed.
Under the influence of aloe juice, the ulcerative surfaces are quickly cleared of pus, covered with granulations and epithelialized.
Usually the lower leaves of aloe are taken for treatment. Some authors recommend not watering the plant for 4–5 days before cutting the leaves. The leaves are cut into small pieces, wrapped in gauze and squeezed.
White cabbage leaf
Place a thoroughly chewed crumb on any abscess rye bread, cover with fresh on top cabbage leaf, then with oiled paper and bandage tightly. Do not remove the bandage for 24 hours. This method is effective in the treatment of felons, subcutaneous abscesses, and unopened boils.
Bulb onions
Accelerates the maturation of any abscess, be it an abscess, boil or panaritium. Carefully crushed onions into a pulp are applied to the affected area and bandaged. You can add milk to the gruel in a 2:1 ratio (2 parts - gruel, 1 part - milk). Sometimes baked onions are used to treat abscesses. The bulb is applied to the affected area and bandaged for a day.
Large plantain
It is used both to relieve inflammation and to stop bleeding from abscesses (with vascular damage), with long-term non-healing wounds and ulcers.
Plantain can also be used in the form of decoctions and infusions. But more often they use plantain juice or pulp from its leaves, which are applied under a bandage.
When the first signs of an abscess appear, it is necessary to bandage fresh ones to the sore spot. crushed leaves plantain, sprinkled with salt, spread pork fat and mixed with bread crumb.
Ointment for abscesses and ulcers
If a painful swelling or redness of the skin appears on the body, smear these areas furacilin ointment or zinc-salicylic paste (Lassara paste). You can take concentrated furatsilin solution(one tablet per 50.0 ml of water), apply it to a sterile gauze cloth and apply it to the problem area of the skin.
Instead of the above, you can use: ointment "Fastin", pharmaceutical solution dioxidine.
The most effective remedy- this is a combination of ointments applied externally and tablets taken internally: “ Abaktil"(1 tablet 2 times a day with meals); or " Fasizhin"(1 tablet 4 times a day with food)
Recipe
Compress
Make compresses at night from a decoction of willow bark. The recipe consists of: 20.0 gr. crushed willow bark to one glass of boiling water, heat over low heat and simmer for about half an hour.
In order to speed up the maturation of the abscess and the resorption of the tumor, a crumb is applied to the sore spot wheat bread dipped in hot milk.
Also used for treatment, acceleration of ripening and breakthrough of the abscess, a honey-egg cake, which is applied to the problem area. It is prepared like this: 1 glass of flour, 1 raw yolk and 1 teaspoon of honey. All this is mixed and applied in the form of a cake to the painful area. Change the cakes every 2 hours until the abscess ruptures.
Surgical treatment of abscesses and ulcers
IN official medicine treatment of any abscess and abscess - large and small, consists of opening the capsule and emptying purulent cavity using a wall cut. It happens, but rarely, in some cases they limit themselves to puncture, pump out the pus and inject antibiotic solutions into the abscess cavity. Washing of the cavity in which the pus was located is also used (for example, in otolaryngological practice for sinusitis, frontal sinusitis) disinfectant solutions Furacilina, Rivanol, etc.
Keep in mind that the main method of treating an abscess or abscess is surgery. The surgeon follows the rule:
Where there is pus, open it there.
Video on the topic
How to treat a purulent abscess on the finger near the nail
How to treat or remove an abscess on a finger near the nail, panaritium. What to do? Folk remedies treatment at home from Papsueva Olga Pavlovna.
You can watch this video at the very beginning (at the top) of the publication.
Abscess on fingers treated with home remedies
Abscess on fingers treatment with folk remedies - tips for treatment and emergency assistance from Papsueva Olga Pavlovna.
Purulent abscess on the finger, pus under the nail
A purulent abscess on the finger, pus under the nail - we treat it ourselves at home + saline solution. Treatment saline solution. The Peruvian balsam helped a lot.
What to do if there is pus under the toenail, the nail has grown into the toe
What to do if the nail does not seem to have grown in but is festering - the answer to the question of one of Olga Pavlovna Papsueva’s subscribers.
- Tarasov E. A. Self-help from A to Z: Complete guide/ Tarasov E. A. – M.: Eksmo Publishing House LLC, 2009. – 352 p. - (Full medical directory for the whole family)
- Uzhegov G.N. People's medical book. Best Recipes traditional medicine. – M.: Arnadiya, 1998. – 352 p. /Medicine for everyone
- Uzhegov G. N. Official and ethnoscience. The most detailed encyclopedia. – M.: Eksmo Publishing House, 2012
An abscess should be understood as a purulent inflammation of tissue with a limited focus of decay. An abscess (ulcer) of soft tissues is usually caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus. With an abscess, the focus of inflammation is clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue. The abscess begins as redness, gradually the lesion becomes denser. In the final stage, the abscess becomes soft with pus inside.
Pus is an accumulation of a mixture of leukocytes, proteins, and other cells, the task of which is to isolate pathogenic microflora. Skin abscesses occur equally in both sexes, but differ in the predominant location of the abscess. Men are characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the neck, head, perirectal area, and limbs. In women, the main localization is armpits, vulvovaginal and perirectal location
Types of abscesses
There are several types of ulcers
- Cold. Pus accumulates in a specific area, usually small. No local symptoms such as pain, redness of the skin or fever are observed.
- Appendicular. Reason – acute inflammation appendix, when it ruptures, a local abscess is formed.
- Peritonsillar.
- Purulent inflammation of the lymph nodes is more common in childhood and affects the lymph nodes in the neck. This inflammation may be the result of infection of the tonsils or accompany tuberculosis of the lymph nodes.
- Purulent inflammation of the mammary glands due to cracking of the nipples during feeding.
- Abscess of the liver, kidney and lungs.
- Subphrenic abscess of the abdominal cavity. Pus is localized under the diaphragm, often with the formation of gases. Occurs as a complication after appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, perforated ulcer stomach or other injuries to internal organs that are accompanied by peritonitis.
- An abscess is an accumulation of purulent masses without showing signs of an acute inflammatory reaction. Occurs with tuberculosis of bones and joints.
- Purulent inflammation of the periodontium (periodontal).
- Post-injection abscess - suppuration of the area after the injection.
- Carbuncle, furuncle, felon also belong to abscesses.
Causes of the disease
Any purulent inflammation is a violation protective barriers our body and the ingestion of harmful agents (viruses, infections, fungi). Our body contains both harmful and beneficial bacteria. When favorable for harmful bacteria conditions, they are activated, their number increases, they form a capsule filled with pus. These microorganisms and bacteria are constantly present on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, eyes, genitals, and intestines. Most often in medical practice such pathogens occur purulent process, How:
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- Proteus mirabilis, which lives primarily in the large intestine and causes abscesses on the lower part of the body;
- coli.
The cause of purulent inflammation can be some diseases - ingrown nails, pharyngitis, paraproctitis, osteomyelitis, Crohn's disease, phthiriasis, amoebiasis, orchiepidemitis.
Symptoms of skin inflammation
An abscess can occur anywhere, but mainly where there is a violation of the integrity of the skin due to injuries and cuts. Hostile microorganisms can penetrate the damaged epithelium and begin to actively multiply in conditions favorable to them. The immune system recognizes the penetration of enemy agents and tries to fence off the infected area with a group inflammatory cells. If there are not enough such cells, a capsule appears with the formation of an abscess.
The main symptoms of purulent inflammation:
- swelling and tenderness of the affected area develops within 3-4 days from the onset of infection;
- after 5-6 days a fluctuation appears;
- low-grade fever with an already formed abscess;
- in rare cases, symptoms of intoxication.
Diagnosis and treatment
It is not difficult to make a diagnosis based on its clear symptoms, but in some advanced cases with secondary infection it is quite difficult to find the primary source of infection. Therefore, additional tests are taken: an imprint from the abscess, general analysis blood and urine. They find out whether there were injuries, burns, or cuts the day before. During the examination, the doctor must be informed about concomitant diseases – diabetes, tumors, vascular diseases.
In the initial stages of development of purulent inflammation, it can be treated at home. Treatment in the first stages is limited to warm compresses to improve blood circulation in the inflamed area, as a result of which the concentration of leukocytes increases, which helps eliminate pathological microflora. Attention! If a purulent process has already begun to form, under no circumstances should you warm the abscess at home. It is necessary to consult a doctor. Suppurating inflammation is treated surgically - the abscess is dissected and drained. If there are no complications in the form of intoxication, no other antibiotic treatment is prescribed.
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An abscess (abscess, abscess) is a purulent inflammation accompanied by the melting of tissue and the formation of a cavity filled with pus. It can form in muscles, subcutaneous tissue, bones, internal organs or in the tissue surrounding them.
Abscess formation
Causes of abscess and risk factors
The cause of the abscess is pyogenic microflora, which enters the patient’s body through damage to the mucous membranes or skin, or is carried through the bloodstream from another primary source of inflammation (hematogenous route).
The causative agent in most cases is mixed microbial flora, in which staphylococci and streptococci predominate in combination with various types coli, such as E. coli. In recent years, the role of anaerobes (clostridia and bacteroides), as well as associations of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms in the development of abscesses, has increased significantly.
Sometimes there are situations when the pus obtained during opening of an abscess, when inoculated on traditional nutrient media, does not give rise to the growth of microflora. This indicates that in these cases the disease is caused by uncharacteristic pathogens, which cannot be detected by conventional diagnostic techniques. To a certain extent, this explains cases of abscesses with an atypical course.
Abscesses can occur as independent disease, but more often they are a complication of some other pathology. For example, pneumonia can be complicated by a lung abscess, and purulent tonsillitis - by a peritonsillar abscess.
With the development of purulent inflammation, the body's defense system seeks to localize it, which leads to the formation of a limiting capsule.
Forms of the disease
Depending on location:
- subphrenic abscess;
- paratonsillar;
- peripharyngeal;
- soft tissues;
- lung;
- brain;
- prostate gland;
- periodontal;
- intestines;
- pancreas;
- scrotum;
- Douglas space;
- appendicular;
- liver and subhepatic; and etc.
Subcutaneous tissue abscesses usually result in complete recovery.
By features clinical course The following forms of abscess are distinguished:
- Hot or spicy. Accompanied by a pronounced local inflammatory reaction, as well as a violation of the general condition.
- Cold. Differs from a regular abscess in the absence of general and local signs inflammatory process(fever, redness of the skin, pain). This form of the disease is characteristic of certain stages of actinomycosis and osteoarticular tuberculosis.
- Natechny. The formation of an area of pus accumulation does not lead to the development of an acute inflammatory reaction. Abscess formation occurs over a long period of time (up to several months). Develops against the background of the osteoarticular form of tuberculosis.
Abscess symptoms
The clinical picture of the disease is determined by many factors and, above all, the location of the purulent process, the cause of the abscess, its size, and the stage of formation.
Symptoms of an abscess localized in the superficial soft tissues are:
- swelling;
- redness;
- severe pain;
- increase in local, and in some cases general temperature;
- dysfunction;
- fluctuation.
Abdominal abscesses are manifested by the following symptoms:
- intermittent (intermittent) fever with a hectic type of temperature curve, i.e., subject to significant fluctuations during the day;
- severe chills;
- headache, muscle and joint pain;
- lack of appetite;
- severe weakness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- delayed passage of gas and stool;
- tension in the abdominal muscles.
When the abscess is localized in the subdiaphragmatic region, patients may experience shortness of breath, cough, pain in the upper abdomen, which intensifies during inspiration and radiates to the scapula and shoulder.
With pelvic abscesses, reflex irritation of the rectum and bladder occurs, which is accompanied by the appearance of tenesmus ( false urges to defecate), diarrhea, frequent urination.
Retroperitoneal abscesses are accompanied by pain in lower parts back, the intensity of which increases when bending the legs at the hip joints.
Symptoms of a brain abscess are similar to the symptoms of any other space-occupying formation (cysts, tumors, etc.) and can vary very widely, ranging from a minor headache to severe cerebral symptoms.
For lung abscess characterized by a significant increase in body temperature, accompanied by severe chills. Patients complain of chest pain, worsening when trying to take a deep breath, shortness of breath and dry cough. After opening an abscess in the bronchus, coughing with copious discharge of sputum, after which the patient’s condition begins to quickly improve.
Abscesses in the oropharynx (retropharyngeal, paratonsillar, peripharyngeal) in most cases develop as a complication of purulent tonsillitis. They are characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe pain radiating to the teeth or ear;
- sensation of a foreign body in the throat;
- muscle spasm that prevents mouth opening;
- soreness and swelling of regional lymph nodes;
- increased body temperature;
- weakness;
- nasal voice;
- the appearance of an unpleasant putrid odor from the mouth.
Diagnosis of an abscess
Superficially located soft tissue abscesses do not cause diagnostic difficulties. With a deeper location, it may be necessary to perform an ultrasound and/or diagnostic puncture. The material obtained during puncture is sent for bacteriological examination, which allows identifying the causative agent of the disease and determining its sensitivity to antibiotics.
Oropharyngeal abscesses are identified during an otolaryngological examination.
Abscesses can occur as an independent disease, but more often they are a complication of some other pathology. For example, pneumonia can be complicated by a lung abscess, and purulent sore throat- paratonsillar abscess.
Diagnosis of abscesses of the brain, abdominal cavity, and lungs is much more difficult. In this case, an instrumental examination is carried out, which may include:
- Ultrasound of the abdominal and pelvic organs;
- magnetic resonance or computed tomography;
Abscess treatment
In the initial stage of development of abscess of superficial soft tissues, anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed. After the abscess has matured, it is opened, usually on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is indicated only for severe general condition patient, the anaerobic nature of the infectious process.
As aid during treatment, as well as for the prevention of complications of abscesses of subcutaneous fat, it is recommended to use Elon ointment. The ointment should be applied to the affected area under a sterile gauze bandage or patch. Depending on the degree of suppuration, the bandage must be changed once or twice a day. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the inflammatory process, but, on average, to obtain a satisfactory result, you need to use the ointment for at least five days. Elon K ointment is sold in pharmacies.
Treatment of a lung abscess begins with the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics. After receiving an antibiogram, antibiotic therapy is adjusted taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen. If there are indications, in order to improve the outflow of purulent contents, perform bronchoalveolar lavage. The ineffectiveness of conservative treatment of an abscess is an indication for surgical intervention - resection (removal) of the affected area of the lung.
Treatment of brain abscesses in most cases is surgical, as they can lead to brain dislocation and cause fatal outcome. A contraindication to the removal of abscesses is their localization in the deep and vital important structures(subcortical nuclei, brain stem, thalamus). In this case, they resort to puncture of the abscess cavity, removal of purulent contents by aspiration, followed by washing the cavity with an antiseptic solution. If repeated rinsing is required, the catheter through which it is carried out is left in the cavity for some time.
Prevention
Prevention of the development of abscesses is aimed at preventing the entry of pathogenic pyogenic microflora into the patient’s body and includes the following measures:
- careful adherence to asepsis and antisepsis when carrying out medical interventions accompanied by damage to the skin;
- timely primary surgical treatment of wounds;
- active sanitation of foci of chronic infection;
- increasing the body's defenses.
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