Abscess in the groin – causes and treatment options

Introduction

An abscess in general is a hollow space that is located at or below the level of the skin and protrudes visibly outwards. The cavity is sharply defined and closed. It contains inflammatory fluid and pus.

Abscesses always occur when bacteria penetrate certain areas of the skin or soft tissue and cannot be eliminated immediately by the defence cells (scavenger cells). Abscesses in the groin area occur relatively frequently. It is also noticeable that abscesses occur mainly in areas of the body that are exposed to increased friction. As a rule, this small abscess usually resolves itself, in which case one could rather speak of a boil. Larger abscesses must be opened by a small operation and the pus removed.

How does an abscess develop?

An abscess in general is a hollow space that is located at or below the level of the skin and protrudes visibly outwards. The cavity is sharply defined and closed. It contains inflammatory fluid and pus.

Abscesses always occur when bacteria penetrate certain areas of the skin or soft tissue and cannot be eliminated immediately by the defence cells (scavenger cells). With the formation of an abscess cavity, the body tries to prevent the pathogens from spreading in the body until they are completely eliminated. They are, so to speak, trapped in the abscess cavity and cannot cause further harm.

In this cave the body can then activate its immune cells at rest to eliminate the bacteria. As a product, pus develops in and during the process of destruction. The pus accumulates in the cavity and inflates it.

The person affected then notices a corresponding swelling in this area. The edges of the wound can also be inflamed and reddened. Some abscesses are painless and are only noticeable because of the severe swelling.

Most abscesses, on the other hand, are also painful under pressure and, depending on where they are located, they also restrict movement and are more painful when moved. Abscesses that occur in the groin can also cause pain and uncomfortable feelings when walking or sitting, as abscess cavities can not only be superficial, but can also reach further into the depths. The groin area is an area of the body that is always under friction due to the constant running movement.

It is most likely that bacteria (mostly staphylococci) in the groin area will enter the skin level at some point and cause an infection. Abscesses can lead to harmless processes without complications, but they can also result in urgent antibiotic or surgical treatment. In the best case, after the bacteria have reached the skin level, the abscess does not develop into a large but rather into a smaller boil, which causes no symptoms apart from a small swelling.

As a rule, this small abscess usually resolves itself. In this case it is more likely to be a boil. In the other case there is a larger, painful swelling of the boil, a reddening and this leads to disturbing pain during movement, while sitting and standing.