Skin Abscess

Age: ‍ years old

Gender: ‍malefemale



HISTORY:

Presents with a ‍-‍day history of ‍tender lumprednessswellingpainpus drainage

Location is on ‍rightleft ‍scalparmpitbreastbackbuttockanus

Symptoms include:

‍tender lump

‍redness

‍swelling

‍pain

‍heat

‍pus drainage

‍fever, up to ‍°, over ‍ ‍hoursdays

‍chills

‍fatigue

‍malaise



Worsening factors: ‍none

Alleviating factors: ‍none, ‍effectiveineffective



Contributing factors:

‍recent skin trauma

‍poor hygiene

‍smoking

‍intravenous drug use

no history of: ‍skin abscess, ‍diabetes, ‍skin conditions, ‍immunodeficiency, ‍MRSA





EXAM:

General appearance: ‍well-appearing, ‍apparent distress

Vital signs: ‍normal, BP ‍, HR ‍, RR ‍, SpO2 ‍ %, Temp ‍°

Skin: ‍rashlesions on ‍





ASSESSMENT:

‍Skin abscess ‍likelysuspectedpossible

DDx: cutaneous abscess, furuncle, carbuncle, cellulitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, infected sebaceous cyst, folliculitis, erysipelas, necrotizing fasciitis, foreign body reaction, insect bite reaction, deep vein thrombosis, osteomyelitis, gout, pseudogout, lymphadenitis, lipoma, ganglion cyst, dermoid cyst





PLAN:

Investigations:

- Blood work: ‍CBC, ‍CRP

- Wound culture

- Ultrasound if deep abscess suspected

- CT scan if deep infection suspected

Treatments:

- Warm compresses

- Incision and drainage

- Wound dressing

- ‍Analgesics

- ‍Antibiotics

Further care:

- Referral to general surgeon

- Follow-up in ‍ ‍daysweeks

- Return if redness expands, fever develops, or if new symptoms occur