Abscess, collection of pus, a thick, yellowish fluid caused by bacterial, protozoan, or fungal invasion of body tissues. Abscesses can occur in the skin, in the gums, in bone, and in body organs, such as the liver, the lungs, and even the brain. The area surrounding the abscess becomes red and swollen; sensations of pain and localized heat are common. If the inflamed tissue encompassing the infected cavity thins out sufficiently, the abscess may rupture.
Boils, or furuncles, small inflamed pus-filled swellings (abscesses) in a hair follicle or break in the skin. The symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain, and often the appearance of a yellow head. A sty is a boil in an eyelash follicle. A carbuncle is a multiple boil involving a number of adjacent hair follicles. Boils are, however, commonest on the areas of the body exposed to friction, such as the back of the neck.
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