Abscesses ,info for injection newbies!!!!
I found this in my files ,I am posting this to help people spot a abscess before it becomes to bad . I hope it is of some help ,taken from med text !!
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Where an abscess is located and whether it interferes with the function of an organ or a nerve determine its symptoms. Symptoms can include pain, tenderness, heat, swelling, redness, and possibly a fever. An abscess that forms just under the skin usually appears as a visible bump. When an abscess is about to rupture, it develops a whitish center as the overlying skin grows thinner. An abscess deep inside the body often grows quite large before it causes symptoms. Unnoticed, a deep abscess is likely to spread infection throughout the body.
Doctors can easily recognize an abscess on or just beneath the skin but often miss a deep abscess. When a person has such an abscess, blood tests often reveal an abnormally large number of white blood cells. X-rays, ultrasound scanning, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to determine the size and position of an abscess. Because abscesses and tumors often cause the same symptoms and produce similar images, a definitive diagnosis sometimes requires that a doctor obtain a sample of the pus or surgically remove the abscess for examination under a microscope.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Where an abscess is located and whether it interferes with the function of an organ or a nerve determine its symptoms. Symptoms can include pain, tenderness, heat, swelling, redness, and possibly a fever. An abscess that forms just under the skin usually appears as a visible bump. When an abscess is about to rupture, it develops a whitish center as the overlying skin grows thinner. An abscess deep inside the body often grows quite large before it causes symptoms. Unnoticed, a deep abscess is likely to spread infection throughout the body.
Doctors can easily recognize an abscess on or just beneath the skin but often miss a deep abscess. When a person has such an abscess, blood tests often reveal an abnormally large number of white blood cells. X-rays, ultrasound scanning, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to determine the size and position of an abscess. Because abscesses and tumors often cause the same symptoms and produce similar images, a definitive diagnosis sometimes requires that a doctor obtain a sample of the pus or surgically remove the abscess for examination under a microscope.
Abscesses occasionally form deep in muscles. These abscesses may be caused by bacteria spreading from a nearby infection in a bone or other tissue or spreading through the bloodstream from a distant part of the body.
Pyomyositis is a disorder in which muscle becomes infected by pus-producing bacteria that often cause abscesses to form. Pyomyositis is more common among people in the tropics and occurs in people with impaired immune systems. The muscles most commonly affected are those in the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms and those around the shoulders. Symptoms include cramping pain followed by swelling, mild fever, and increasing discomfort, especially when the infected muscle is moved.
Treatment
Often an abscess heals without treatment by rupturing and discharging its contents. Occasionally, the abscess disappears slowly without rupturing as the body destroys the infection and absorbs the debris. The abscess may leave a hard lump.
An abscess can be pierced and drained to relieve pain and promote healing. To drain a large abscess, a doctor must probe it to break down the walls and release all the pus. When drained, large abscesses leave a large empty space (dead space), which a doctor may temporarily pack with gauze. Sometimes, inserting temporary artificial drains (usually thin plastic tubes) is necessary.
Because an abscess doesn't have a blood supply, antibiotics usually aren't helpful. After an abscess has been drained, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent a recurrence. Antibiotics also are taken when an abscess spreads infection to other parts of the body. A laboratory analysis of bacteria from the pus helps a doctor select the most effective antibiotic.
