Causes of Pus in the Body

Pus that appears on the body is a sign of an infection, which is generally caused by bacteria. Not only on the surface of the skin, pus can also form in internal organs, such as the urinary tract, mouth, eyes, brain, and lungs. Check out the various causes of the appearance of pus in the body and how to deal with the following! Pus can be recognized as thick, yellowish-white thick liquid, sometimes green or brown in color and smell bad. Pus fluid contains white blood cells, bacteria, and dead body tissue.

Causes of Pus formation

Pus appears as the body's natural reaction when fighting infection, or the body's inflammatory response to bacterial infection, and sometimes to fungus. Infection will cause pus when bacteria enter the body through injured skin, inhaled when coughing or sneezing, and due to unhygienic habits. When an infection occurs in certain parts of the body, white blood cells called neutrophils will gather in that part of the body and fight against the bacteria that causes the infection. During the process, many white blood cells and other body tissues around them die. Well, the accumulation of white blood cells and body tissues that die is then called pus. Many types of infections can cause pus. The most common cause is infection by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.

Vulnerable Parts of the Body Infected with Bacteria and Producing Pus

In medical terms, pus that forms and builds up near body tissue is called an abscess. When pus is on or near the surface of the skin is called pustul or boils. Pus can also appear in internal organs, such as bones, brain, lungs, and digestive tract. Here are a few members of the body that are susceptible to being infected with bacteria and causing the appearance of pus or abscesses:

• Skin

Pus or abscess that arises is usually caused by an infected hair follicle, or called a boil. Severe acne as a result of accumulation of dead skin, oil, and bacteria can also cause the appearance of pus. In addition, open sores on the skin are also susceptible to infections that can trigger pus.

• Mouth

The condition of the mouth which is moist and warm becomes the right living environment for bacteria to grow and develop. These bacteria can then cause dental abscesses and gum abscesses when your teeth crack or cavities.

• Urinary tract

Pus in the urinary tract generally occurs when you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), for example caused by Escherichia coli bacteria that are in the large intestine into the urinary tract due to how to cleanse the genitals after defecating wrong (from back to front). When that happens, pus that comes out with urine will make the urine look cloudy.

• Eye

Infection that occurs in the eye is often found in red eye conditions due to bacterial infection. Blocked tear ducts and accumulation of dirt in the eye can also trigger an infection that results in the appearance of pus in the eye.

• Lungs

Infection in the lungs can cause pus deposits. Pus can accumulate in the protective lining of the lungs (pleura) or in the lung tissue itself. Pus that collects in the pleural lining is medically called empyema, whereas pus formed and buried in the lung tissue is called a lung abscess.

• Brain

Brain infection can cause the formation of pus in the brain. This condition is called a brain abscess, and occurs when brain tissue is attacked by bacteria or fungi, which then causes an inflammatory reaction that produces pus. These bacteria or fungi can enter the brain from other parts of the body, for example the sinus cavity through blood circulation, or when there is an injury to the head due to injury or surgery.

Pus formed due to infection is generally accompanied by other symptoms. For example in infections or abscesses that occur on the skin, signs that can be seen include skin flushing around the abscess, as well as areas of the abscess that look swollen and painful. Abscesses that occur in the body or called internal abscesses usually cause symptoms such as fever, chills, weakness, and fatigue. These symptoms are similar to the symptoms of flu in general.

Pus in Postoperative Incision Forms

Every wound or incision made during a surgical or surgical procedure, risks causing an infection called a surgical site infection (SSI). People who undergo surgery have a 1-3 percent risk of experiencing the infection. SSI can affect anyone undergoing surgery, but there are certain conditions that can increase the risk of its appearance, including:

• Suffering from diabetes.
• Smoke.
• Obesity.
• Surgical procedure that lasts for more than two hours.
• Having a condition that weakens the immune system.
• Undergo treatments that weaken the immune system, such as chemotherapy.

SSI occurs because there are bacteria on surgical equipment or bacteria that are already in your own skin before the surgery. Symptoms of SSI include redness and warmth around the site of surgery, pus flowing from the wound, and fever.

Treating Pus that Appears in the Body

Pus treatment depends on how serious the infection is causing it. Handling is generally done is:

• Warm water compress

For small boils on the surface of the skin, you can compress it with warm water to help remove pus. Apply compresses several times a day for several minutes.

• Avoid breaking boils or abscesses by squeezing them

In addition to causing new wounds, removing pus in this way can actually cause more serious infections.

• Pus drainage through medical personnel

For deeper, bigger, or more difficult abscesses, you need medical treatment in the form of drying, which is pus removal with a needle or making a small incision in the abscess. If the abscess is very large, the doctor may insert a sterile tube to dry the pus.

• Antibiotics

For deeper bacterial infections or those that will be difficult to cure, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics. For severe suppurating infections, such as brain abscesses and lungs, hospital treatment will be needed by administering injection antibiotics.

Preventative Measures for Suppuration

Although some types of infections are difficult to prevent, you can take steps to minimize the risk of infections that cause pus. It is recommended that you treat and keep the wound clean and dry, and avoid squeezing pimples or boils. If you are experiencing an abscess or pus appears on certain body parts, some of these methods can be done to avoid the spread of the infection:

• Do not use towels and beds alternately or together with others.
• Washing hands before and after touching pus.
• Avoid swimming in public pools.
• Avoid using sports equipment together.

Generally, pus caused by a mild infection can heal on its own without treatment. However, in more serious infections, medical care is needed, such as drainage or pus drainage and antibiotic administration. Immediately consult a doctor if the appearance of pus or abscesses in the body does not also improve after a few days.