What it is
It most often affects the face and neck, but can also affect the lungs, the abdomen or the pelvis (sometimes linked to a long-term coil).
It is treated with antibiotics, usually for weeks or months, and sometimes surgery to drain abscesses.
Common signs
- A firm lump in the jaw, neck or elsewhere that grows slowly
- Abscesses or openings in the skin that leak pus
- Fever, tiredness and weight loss
How it is usually diagnosed
- Samples of pus or tissue examined in the laboratory
- Scans such as CT to see how far it has spread
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Laboratory and biopsy reports
- Scan reports
- The antibiotics you took, with start and end dates
- Dental records if the infection started in the mouth
Questions to ask your doctor
- How long will I need antibiotics?
- How will we know the infection has cleared?
- Is there anything that might have caused it that we should deal with?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- High fever with feeling very unwell, confused or breathing fast
- Swelling in the neck that makes breathing or swallowing hard
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.