Fistulas—Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

• Abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Abscess scan – radioactive (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Amebic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Anorectal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bartholin cyst or abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Brain abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epidural abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intra-abdominal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pancreatic abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perirenal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Peritonsillar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pilonidal cyst resection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pyogenic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Retropharyngeal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Subareolar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tooth abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two parts inside of the body. Fistulas may develop between different organs, such as between the esophagus and the windpipe or the bowel and the vagina. They can also develop between two blood vessels, such as between an artery and a vein or between two arteries.

Some people are born with a fistula. Other common causes of fistulas include

• Complications from surgery
• Injury
• Infection
• Diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Treatment depends on the cause of the fistula, where it is, and how bad it is. Some fistulas will close on their own. In some cases, you may need antibiotics and/or surgery.

• Fistula (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Gastrointestinal fistula (Medical Encyclopedia)