Intra-abdominal abscesses are pockets of infected pus and fluid in the abdominal cavity that can lead to sepsis and death if left untreated. Causes include surgery, trauma, and intestinal issues. Symptoms include nausea, fever, and abdominal pain. Treatment involves antibiotics and drainage through a catheter or surgery.
An intra-abdominal abscess is defined as a pocket in the abdominal cavity that is filled with infected pus and fluid. Such an abscess is normally enclosed in an inflammatory barrier, keeping the infectious bacteria locked inside a person’s abdominal cavity. The bacteria that occurs in this localized area of infection usually comes from the intestines and will remain in the abdomen until the abscess is treated. If the intra-abdominal abscess is not found and treated quickly, a person may develop sepsis, require extensive hospitalization, or even die. Multiple abscesses can occur at the same time.
There are many causes for an intra-abdominal abscess, including a ruptured appendix, a burst diverticulum of the intestine, inflammatory bowel disease, and parasites in the intestines. Surgery is also a major cause of intra-abdominal abscesses. Trauma to the abdominal region, particularly trauma to the pancreas, spleen, and liver, can also cause these pus-filled pockets.
Symptoms of an intra-abdominal abscess can vary but usually include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weakness. A person with an abscess may not have an appetite at all. The area where the abscess is located may be tender to the touch, and if it is large enough, there may be a lump that can be seen or felt. Abscesses that are found in the upper abdomen near a person’s diaphragm can produce symptoms similar to those of pneumonia and pleural effusion.
Blood tests are usually used to see if a person’s white blood cell count is higher than normal. This usually indicates some type of infection. Ultrasounds, CAT scans, abdominal X-rays, and chest X-rays can also be used to help uncover an abscess.
When a pocket of infection is found, it can usually be treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics. A doctor will need to use a catheter or perform surgery to drain the area so the infection can’t spread. The use of a catheter will only happen if the drainage will not interfere with any other organs that have not yet been contaminated, if there are only a few pockets to drain, and if there is no risk of contaminating the rest of the body. The infected pus filling the abscess will also need to be thin enough to pass through the catheter. If these conditions are not met, surgery to drain the intra-abdominal abscess will be required.
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