Abscesses occur when bacteria get under your skin and form a pocket of pus. Symptoms include tenderness, pain and swelling, often on an arm or leg where there’s been a cut or scrape. Seek medical attention right away if you suspect you may have an abscess. In addition to local treatment with heat or steroids, doctors may need to drain or lance an abscess, so it’s best not to wait until they’re filled with pus. And if your doctor prescribes antibiotics, finish them before starting new ones.
It can be difficult to tell when an abscess is dangerous and needs urgent care, especially if you have never had one before. An abscess is a pocket of pus that usually forms as a result of a bacterial infection in your body. They are normally treated at home, but if they are severe they may need treatment in urgent care or an emergency room. The following symptoms may indicate that you should seek urgent care
Abscesses are collections of pus that form around a localized infection. They are highly contagious and, if left untreated, can cause extreme damage and even death. Because they can be so painful, abscesses are serious enough to warrant a trip to urgent care immediately if you suspect one. If your symptoms persist or worsen despite over-the-counter treatments, or you have a fever and high levels of pain with an abscess, seek medical help at once. These situations require immediate attention in order to prevent further infections or serious complications in other parts of your body such as organ failure. Remember, urgent care clinics are easily accessible by phone 24/7—make sure you know when it’s time to reach out for advice about your condition and how best to proceed toward recovery.
If you are suffering from an abscess and cannot make it to your doctor within three days, you should consider going to an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room. Abscesses need immediate medical attention. If one develops in your tooth, then you will want to seek treatment as soon as possible so that your dentist can remove it before it spreads. Abscesses on your skin do not always have such a clear path of infection, but if you experience redness, swelling and pain with fever, then it’s time for a trip to urgent care. Remember that infections of all kinds can spread quickly if left untreated so don’t hesitate.
