Abscess
An abscess is a cavity of pus that can initially form independently of an ulcer. The reason for the accumulation of pus is an infection of the affected area, which cannot be sufficiently fought by the body. If the abscess breaks through the surface, an additional ulcer can develop there. On the other hand, an ulcer can become infected and thus bring pathogens into deeper tissue layers, where an abscess is then formed.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis ulcer is usually a gaze diagnosis. Especially on the skin such an ulcer can be quickly identified. It is more difficult with ulcers that are located inside the body, typically in the gastrointestinal tract.
One place where an ulcer frequently forms is the stomach. To make the diagnosis, imaging is usually required, for example a gastroscopy. In this procedure, a camera is attached to a long tube that passes through the esophagus and into the stomach.
By these symptoms one can recognize an ulcer
The symptoms of an ulcer vary greatly depending on its location. On the skin there is usually pain with a burning character. An ulcer can become inflamed, causing the surrounding skin to redden, warm and swell.
An infection of the ulcer can also occur, often leading to an accumulation of pus. Due to the poor healing of an ulcer, a part of the superficial tissue dies, which can cause the ulcer to turn black. It can also start to stink due to the infection and the dead tissue.
An ulcer in the area of the gastrointestinal tract, on the other hand, is not as noticeable. A gastric ulcer causes stomach pain, it can also bleed and thus lead to a dark coloration of the bowel movement. In the case of larger or prolonged bleeding, anemia can also occur.
Non-specific symptoms such as nausea and bloating are also associated with a stomach ulcer. Pain and bleeding can also occur in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The further the ulcer lies in the anal direction, the brighter the blood in the stool.
Pus is produced by the body during inflammation and consists mainly of waste products of the defence cells.If an ulcer becomes inflamed, for example due to a bacterial infection, defence cells are sent from the body to this ulcer. There, the immune system fights off the pathogens, killing both the bacteria and many of the defense cells. If the cell material is not removed quickly enough, it accumulates in the form of pus.
Since an ulcer is often accompanied by a circulatory disorder, there is often a delayed removal. An ulcer begins to stink when it contains cells that produce malodorous gases. This often happens in the context of an infection with bacteria.
These bacteria expel such gases in the course of their metabolic process. But even without bacterial colonization, an ulcer can begin to stink. The cause of this is cell death (necrosis). Due to the poor blood circulation, these cells cannot be removed from the body quickly enough, instead they start to stink.
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