Table of contents:
- Causes pus to appear on the body
- Why does pus have a different color?
- Pus appears on the incision after surgery, is it normal?
- How to treat pus?
The appearance of pus on the body indicates that something is wrong with you. Pus usually develops when you are sick. However, what is the real cause of the pus?
Causes pus to appear on the body
Pus is a yellowish or brownish-white discharge as a result of the reaction of your body's immune system when it fights an infection. The infection will cause pus when bacteria or fungi enter your body through skin that is injured, inhaled from coughing or sneezing, and body that is not clean.
Many types of infections can cause pus to appear. Infections that occur due to exposure to bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes is the most common cause of suppuration.
The pus discharge contains protein and dead white blood cells. When the buildup is on or near the surface of the skin, it is called a pustule. The accumulation of pus in the closed tissue is called an abscess.
Why does pus have a different color?
The white, whitish, yellow, yellow-brown, and greenish color of pus is the result of the accumulation of dead white blood cells.
However, the pus can sometimes be green because some white blood cells produce a green antibacterial protein called myeloperoxide. These causative bacteria are Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a green pigment called pyocyanin.
Yellowish discharge due to infection caused by P. aeruginosa very foul smelling. If blood gets into the affected area, a yellowish or greenish color may become reddish.
Pus appears on the incision after surgery, is it normal?
Pus is a sign of infection. The appearance of pus on the surgical incision scar indicates postoperative complications in the form of infection. This condition is also known as surgical site infection (SSI). According to John Hopkins Medicine, people who have surgery have a 1-3 percent chance of getting this infection.
SSI can affect anyone who has had surgery, but there are a number of things that can increase the risk. SSI risk factors include:
- Have diabetes
- Smoke
- Obesity
- Surgical procedure that lasts more than two hours.
- Have a condition that weakens the immune system.
- Undergo treatments that weaken the immune system, such as chemotherapy.
Symptoms of SSI include redness, a feeling of warmth around the surgery site, pus draining from the wound, and fever.
How to treat pus?
Treating pus depends on how serious the infection is. For small pus boils on the surface of the skin, you can compress it with warm water to help drain the pus. Do this for a few minutes a few times a day.
The doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic or ointment to be applied to the infection site. Antibiotics help the white blood cells fight infection thereby speeding up the healing process and preventing further complications with the infection.
Make sure you do not break boils by squeezing them. Doing so will actually push the pus deeper into your skin. It can also cause new sores and can develop into other infections.
For abscesses that are deeper, larger, or difficult to reach, you'll need medical attention. A doctor can remove it with a needle or make a small incision to let the abscess dry. If the abscess is very large, the doctor may insert a drainage tube.
For infections that are deeper or that are difficult to heal, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics for you.
