Depending on its location and what is causing it, an abscess may be very easy or very difficult to diagnose and treat. For example, an abscess near the skin surface is easy to diagnose since the painful area can be seen as red and protruding. It may also have a ‘head’ which may eventually burst and release the pus.

However, an internal abscess may be more difficult to diagnose. One maybe suspected if a patient reports localised pain with feverishness and the doctor finds tenderness and swelling in the relevant area.

There may also be other symptoms relating to increased pressure, such as seizures or jaundice due to a liver abscess.

The treatment is almost always by incising (cutting into) the abscess and releasing the pus. Sometimes a course of antibiotics is given to help the body clear up the remaining infection.

The success of this depends on its location. Also, if the pyogenic membrane has cut the abscess off from the blood stream, an abscess may be resistant to even very high doses of antibiotics.