An abscess is often painful to the touch or sore and aching, and it may be part of an infection that can spread to other parts of the body. But some abscesses are hidden, making themselves known only through fever or fatigue . Parts affected An abscess may be on the surface or on an organ inside the body. The most dangerous abscesses are those that cannot be seen.
Abscesses can form where a break in the skin becomes infected, resulting in boils or carbuncles.
Carbuncles are large skin abscesses with several openings. Abscesses often develop in bone below an infected tooth. An abscess can also develop below a fingernail. An abscess, visible or not, can be painful to the touch and feel hot. Below a tooth an abscess may result in continuous or throbbing pain.