These abscesses most commonly occur in men between ages 40 and 60. Typically, a man with a prostate abscess experiences painful, frequent, or difficult urination. Less commonly, he feels internal pain at the base of the penis and notices pus or blood in his urine. In nearly all cases of abdominal abscesses, the pus must be drained, either by surgery or by a needle inserted through the skin. Laboratory analysis of the pus identifies the infecting organism so that the most effective antibiotic can be selected.
Abscesses can also develop in the brain.
Children are more likely than adults to develop a throat abscess. Less commonly, these abscesses come from a nearby infection, such as a tooth abscess or a salivary gland infection. Along with having a fever and sore throat, the person feels ill. Opening the mouth may be difficult. The infection may spread, causing neck swelling.