An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body.[1] Signs and symptoms for those close to the skin include: redness, pain, warmth, and swelling that when pressed feels like it is fluid filled.[1] The area of redness often extends beyond the swelling.[2] Carbuncles and furuncles are types of abscess that often involves hair follicles with carbuncles being larger.[3]
’’’膿瘍’’’（{{lang-en|Abscess}}）又稱作’’’膿瘍’’’、’’’膿腫’’’指的是在身體[[組織 (生物學)|組織]]中蓄積的[[膿]][1]。接近體表的膿瘍會有紅、腫、熱、痛等症狀，觸診病灶時感覺其內部充滿液體[1]，皮膚發紅的範圍常比腫起的範圍更大[2]。常見的體表膿瘍包括發生在[[毛囊]]的[[癰]]（影響範圍較大）與{{link-en|癤|boil}}（影響範圍較小）等[3]。
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They are usually cause by a bacterial infection.[4] Often many different types of bacteria are involved in a single infection.[2] In the United States and many other areas of the world the most common bacteria present is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.[1] Rarely parasites can causes abscesses and this is more common in the developing world.[5] Diagnosis is usually made based on what it looks like and is confirmed by cutting it open.[1] Ultrasound imaging may be useful in cases in which the diagnosis is not clear.[1] In abscesses around the anus, computer tomography (CT) may be important to look for deeper infection.[5]
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膿瘍源自[[病原菌]]的[[感染]][4]，在病灶處常有許多不同種的細菌同時感染[2]。在美國與世界許多地區裡，在膿瘍中最常見的菌種是[[抗藥性金黃色葡萄球菌]][1]，在[[發展中國家]]偶爾也可見到由[[寄生蟲]]引起的膿瘍[5]。通常診斷要從外型以及切開後觀察確定[1]，[[超音波]]在無法確定診斷時或許有幫助[1]，而更為深處的膿瘍則可能需要以[[X射線電腦斷層掃描|電腦斷層]]才能發現[5]（比如說{{link-en|肛門膿瘍|anorectal abscess}}等）。
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Standard treatment for most skin or soft tissue abscesses is cutting it open and drainage.[6] There does not appear to be any benefit from also using antibiotics in most people who are otherwise healthy.[1] A small amount of evidence supports not packing with gause the cavity that remains after drainage.[1] Closing this cavity right after draining it rather than leaving it open may speed healing without increase the risk of the abscess returning.[7] Sucking out the pus with a needle is often not sufficient.[1]
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皮膚與軟組織膿瘍的標準治療方式是{{link-en|切開引流|incision and drainage}}[6]，[[抗細菌藥|抗生素]]治療對於原先健康的患者而言並沒有幫助[1]。有少量的證據支持在引流後不用紗布填塞留下的空腔[1]。相對於等待其自行癒合，在引流後縫合空腔可能加速癒合且不會增加膿瘍復發的機會[7]。單以針頭進行引流而不進行切開常無法將膿瘍引流乾淨[1]。
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Skin abscesses are common and have become more common in recent years.[1] Risk factors include intravenous drug use with rates reported as high as 65% in this population.[8] In 2005 in the United States 3.2 million people went to the emergency department for an abscess.[9] In Australia around 13,000 people were hospitalized in 2008 for the disease.[10]
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近年來皮膚膿瘍是常見的疾病，而且還有更為盛行的趨勢[1]。罹患皮膚膿瘍的風險因子主要是{{link-en|施打靜脈藥物|drug injection}}，這個族群的皮膚膿瘍盛行率有65%[8]。2005年美國有三百二十萬人因皮膚膿瘍而至急診就診[9]，而在澳洲，2008年有一萬三千人因皮膚膿瘍而住院治療[10]。