Abscesses, boils and carbuncles

Overview

An abscess is a build-up of pus caused by bacteria on any part of your body. It occurs when the body's immune system fights an infection, leading to the buildup of white blood cells, germs, fluid, and dead tissue. Various types of abscesses include skin, mouth, and internal abscesses¹. 

• Skin abscesses: This type of abscess develops under your skin and it can occur on your armpit, breast, or around your anus or rectum. 
• Mouth Abscesses: These can affect the teeth, gums, and throat. Examples include tooth abscesses, gingival abscesses, periapical abscesses, periodontal abscesses, tonsil abscesses, peritonsillar abscesses, and retropharyngeal abscesses.
• Internal Abscesses: These are less common and can affect the spinal cord, brain, and other organs. Examples include abdominal abscesses, spinal cord abscesses, and brain abscesses.

Boil is similar to an abscess but smaller, starting as a red, tender bump that gradually enlarges. It is a painful pus-filled infection caused by bacteria, often staph, and forms as bumps under the skin. It's a specific type of abscess that involves bacteria infecting a hair follicle, usually found on the face, neck, armpits,  buttocks, or thighs. 

Carbuncles are the formation of several boils. They are usually larger, deeper boils that involve multiple bacterial infections of hair follicles and often occur on the back of the neck, shoulders, or buttocks Carbuncles are more severe than a single boil, it may cause fever, chills, and general discomfort.

Types and Signs of Abscesses

• Skin Abscesses: A skin abscess is a collection of pus that forms beneath the skin as a result of an infection. It typically appears as a red, swollen, and raised area that may be tender or warm to the touch. The skin over the abscess may appear stretched or shiny, and in many cases, there is visible pus that can be expressed if the abscess ruptures or is drained. In addition to the physical signs, individuals with skin abscesses may experience pain at the site of the infection, which can be throbbing or constant. Other systemic symptoms may include fever, chills, and general malaise, as the body fights the infection.

• Mouth abscesses: Also known as a dental or oral abscess, mouth abscesses typically form around the teeth or gums and can cause significant discomfort. The most common symptoms include a severe toothache or persistent pain that may worsen when chewing or touching the affected area. Swelling can develop in the gums, jaw, cheeks, or floor of the mouth, and it may feel soft or fluctuant due to the accumulation of pus. In some cases, the abscess may cause a foul taste or bad breath. If the infection spreads, it can lead to fever, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the nearby lymph nodes as the body attempts to fight off the infection.
• Internal Abscesses: Internal abscesses can develop in various organs or cavities within the body, and their symptoms largely depend on the location and size of the abscess. Common sites for internal abscesses include the lungs, liver, kidneys, and abdomen. In some cases, an abscess may form after surgery, injury, or as a result of a bacterial infection spreading from nearby tissues. 
  For example, a lung abscess may cause symptoms like coughing (often with foul-smelling sputum), chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever².

Signs of Boils

• Early Signs: Before the boil fully forms, the affected area may begin to feel sensitive, itchy, or even slightly painful. This early discomfort can often be mistaken for minor skin irritation or pimple, but it serves as an early indicator that a boil may be developing. The area may become red or inflamed, and the skin may feel warm to the touch as the body's immune system begins to respond to the infection.

• Pus Formation: As the infection deepens and the body continues its immune response, the bump that forms will begin to fill with pus — a thick, often yellow or white fluid made up of dead cells, bacteria, and immune cells. At this stage, the bump may feel soft and spongy, or in some cases, it may feel firm as the infection matures and more pus accumulates under the skin.

• Size Changes: Initially, a boil starts off small but eventually, it can grow significantly as the infection progresses. Over several days, the bump can increase in size, sometimes growing as large as a golf ball³ or even larger.

• Pus-Filled Center: As the boil grows, a yellowish or white centre may develop, signalling the accumulation of pus in the core of the infection. The centre may appear soft and tender, surrounded by red, shiny, and inflamed skin.

• Drainage: The boil may leak pus as your body fights the infection, and the area may begin to form a crust as the body works to heal the wound. This drainage process helps to relieve the pressure caused by the buildup of pus and allows the body to expel the bacteria causing the infection. However, even after drainage, the area may remain red, tender, and swollen for some time.

• Possible Spread: The bacteria causing the boil can spread to other parts of your body, or other people through close contact or shared items.

Signs of Carbuncles

Compared to a single boil, carbuncles are the formation of multiple boils causing a more serious and complex type of skin infection. Since carbuncles involve multiple hair follicles and a greater area of infected tissue, they cause a deeper and more severe infection. people with a carbuncle often experience more generalized symptoms of infection. Unlike a single boil, which may only cause localized discomfort, carbuncle sufferers often feel unwell overall. This can include symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, and sometimes nausea⁴.