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Warning-sign checks

Abscess: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek urgent or emergency care for rapidly worsening illness, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, or swelling that affects swallowing or the airway.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the healthcare professional sooner if:

    • Pain, redness, warmth, or swelling is increasing
    • Red streaks develop or pus continues to build up
    • Fever begins or returns
    • The wound has a strong odor or heavy bleeding
    • Packing or a drainage tube falls out unexpectedly
    • Symptoms fail to improve as expected
    • A new abscess appears
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Follow-up instructions depend on the abscess and how it was treated.

    A clinician may arrange a wound check within a few days, especially when packing or a drainage tube was placed.

    Keep this appointment even if pain has improved, because the opening can close before the deeper cavity has healed.

    During routine healing, pain, swelling, and drainage should gradually decrease.

    A small amount of fluid on the dressing may be expected after drainage.

    Ask the treating team what is normal for the specific wound and when dressings or packing should be changed.

    Recurrent abscesses deserve a planned medical review rather than repeated home treatment.

    The clinician may look for a cyst, fistula, foreign material, hidradenitis suppurativa, diabetes, or another factor.

    Prevention may include treating an underlying skin condition, covering draining wounds, regular handwashing, and avoiding shared personal items.

    Some people with repeated S. aureus infections may be offered a clinician-supervised plan to reduce bacteria carried on the skin or in the nose.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Abscess. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.