Symptoms - Abscess - Overview

The symptoms of an abscess depend on where it develops in your body.

Skin abscesses

Signs of a skin abscess include:

• a smooth swelling under your skin
• pain and tenderness in the affected area
• warmth and redness in the affected area
• a visible build-up of white or yellow pus under the skin
• a high temperature
• chills or sweating

A boil is a common type of skin abscess.

Internal abscesses

Some abscesses develop inside an organ or in the spaces between organs. These can be more difficult to identify than skin abscesses. The symptoms might not be clear. There may be no obvious external signs of a problem.

The symptoms of an internal abscess can vary. They depend on exactly where in the body the abscess develops.

For example:

• a liver abscess may cause jaundice - yellowing of the skin and eyes
• an abscess in or near the lungs may cause a cough or shortness of breath

General symptoms of an internal abscess can include:

• discomfort or tenderness in the area of the abscess
• high temperature
• increased sweating
• feeling sick
• getting sick
• chills
• pain or swelling in your tummy
• loss of appetite and weight loss