PUS, ABSCESS AND BOIL; WHAT ARE THEY?

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Pus

Pus is a thick, milky, yellowish or greenish fluid that forms in an infected area of your body. This could be on your skin or inner body tissues and organs. 
Acne is an example of a skin condition which usually contains pus. When you "pop a pimple", it is common to see pus as its content. 
Pus is made up of dead white blood cells, bacteria, debris from your body tissues and serum. White blood cells fight off bacteria and in the process, some of the white blood cells are killed. 
During this fight (which can also be called inflammation) between your white blood cells and bacteria, some of your organ cells are destroyed, these cells are the tissue debris. 

When inflammation is ongoing, your blood vessel becomes permeable allowing more immune cells (fighting cells) to reach the area of combat (area of infection). This permeability of your blood vessels also allow nutrient and clear fluids from your blood to reach the area of infection. Nutrients help in regeneration of the broken-down tissue.  The clear fluid is called serum. 

When pus is collected in a body area in a what that makes that are swollen, soft or firm, it is called abscess. 


Abscess
Abscess is a collection of pus in a localised area of your body. Your body forms an abscess to keep the infection localised and prevent spreading to other tissues. In more severe cases, abscesses can occur with fever and general body discomfort (malaise). 
On your skin, an abscess is usually warm, swollen and contains pus. It can painful, soft or firm to touch, and can be reddish. 

There are many places in your body an abscess can form. The photo above is a dental abscess erroneously called gum boil. 
An abscess can form anywhere on your body. Is is an evidence of infection in a localised area and it can vary in size. 
This is an abscess drained from a sixty-eighth year old man with an Infection of the facial spaces. 
Abscess on your skin is known as boil or furuncle. 


Boil (Furuncle) 
A boil is an abscess located on the skin, also called skin abscess. When the infection is localised in a hair follicle in your skin, it is called a boil or a furuncle. A hair follicle is like a tiny pocket in your skin where your hair grows from. 
Boils can grow and rupture on their own draining or discharging pus. 
Bacteria infection is the most common cause of boil and the bacteria usually implicated is Staphylococcus aureus. 
This bacteria is normal on your intact skin but when there is a cut or an open wound on your skin, it can penetrate and cause infection of your hair follicle resulting in formation of boil. 


Treatment and prevention
Boil and abscess commonly results from bacteria infections with pus discharge as a sign or symptom. Antibiotics are usually used in the treatment and pain medication are used if there is an associated pain. 
In some cases, cuts are made by a clinician on or around the swelling and the content is drained, then antibiotics are continued. 

Maintaining a good hygiene and keeping wounds clean are some preventive measures. 
Boils are usually not serious but it is important they are treated to avoid spreading of the infection. 




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