Lymphatic Diseases—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)

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs. It is made up of

• Lymph – a fluid that contains white blood cells that defend against germs
• Lymph vessels – vessels that carry lymph throughout your body. They are different from blood vessels.
• Lymph nodes – glands found throughout the lymph vessels. Along with your spleen, these nodes are where white blood cells fight infection.

Your bone marrow and thymus produce the cells in lymph. They are part of the system, too.

The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. If it’s not working properly, fluid builds in your tissues and causes swelling, called lymphedema. Other lymphatic system problems can include infections, blockage, and cancer.

• Cancer and lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cystic hygroma (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Groin lump (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lymph node biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lymph system (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lymphadenitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lymphangitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lymphofollicular hyperplasia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Neck lump (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Swollen lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia)