Symptoms can include pain, tenderness, heat, swelling, redness, and possibly a fever. An abscess that forms just under the skin usually appears as a visible bump. When an abscess is about to rupture, it develops a whitish center as the overlying skin grows thinner. An abscess deep inside the body often grows quite large before it causes symptoms. Unnoticed, a deep abscess is likely to spread infection throughout the body.
Doctors can easily recognize an abscess on or just beneath the skin but often miss a deep abscess.
When a person has such an abscess, blood tests often reveal an abnormally large number of white blood cells. Because abscesses and tumors often cause the same symptoms and produce similar images, a definitive diagnosis sometimes requires that a doctor obtain a sample of the pus or surgically remove the abscess for examination under a microscope. Treatment Often an abscess heals without treatment by rupturing and discharging its contents. Occasionally, the abscess disappears slowly without rupturing as the body destroys the infection and absorbs the debris. The abscess may leave a hard lump.