Causes

• Foreign object trapped inside you, such as a thorn or piece of metal that breaks off in your skin; also, retained foreign body fragments after previous attempted removal.
• Infected diverticulum in the large intestine can cause a diverticular abscess.
• Infection at the site of previous surgery (perioperative wound contamination).
• Skin infection may result in an abscess.
• Tooth infection may progress to a periodontal abscess.
• Wound or trauma to the skin, especially a puncture wound, may cause an abscess.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Nausea
• Chills
• Swelling
• Lesions on the skin
• Inflamed skin
• Fluid drainage from the abscess

Treatment

Abscess Incision & Drainage Procedure:
In this procedure, Once the abscess has been located, the surgeon drains the pus using the needle. They may make a small incision in your skin over the abscess, then insert a thin plastic tube called a drainage catheter into it. The catheter allows the pus to drain out into a bag and may have to be left in place for up to a week.

This procedure may be carried out as a day case procedure, which means you’ll be able to go home the same day, although some people will need to stay in hospital for a few days. As with the incision and drainage procedure for skin abscesses, percutaneous drainage may leave a small scar.