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If you’ve ever had a cut that seems to ooze “white stuff” or have noticed a white pimple on your face, then you’ve seen pus. Pus may be disgusting to look at, but it is actually a sign of your body’s ability to fight infections. Pus means your white blood cells are attacking infections present on or in your body.

Pus can be white, slightly yellow or green, and is relatively thick, approximately the same as Elmer’s Glue. It’s actually a collection of dead skin cells, white blood cells called neutrophils, and some bacteria that is still putting up a fight. It is a visible sign that you have an infection. A minor source of tiny amounts of pus, as in a pimple, merely needs to be washed and cleaned with an antiseptic. Many infections that show pus are derived from staph bacteria, which we all have in some amount on our skin.

With small pimples, it is sufficient to use hot compresses, so that the pus drains. After a daily compress treatment, you should always be sure to use an antiseptic on the pimple. Further, wash your hands after dealing with pus in pimples, because it can still contain live bacteria which can be spread to those around you, or infect other areas of your skin. It’s usually fine to ignore small pimples until they go away. Your body is battling to fight off this small infection, and often wins this battle.

Pus coming from a wound, or a pimple that gets larger and larger, especially if it is above the cheekbone and below the forehead, suggests the body may need a little extra help fighting the infection. In these cases, a wait and see approach to pus is definitely not recommended. Untreated infections that the body can’t fight can lead to staph infections in the blood, which can be extremely serious.

If you have a great deal of pus coming from a wound, and the wound feels hard, hot, or has red streaks, these are the early signs of an infection called cellulitis, and you should see a doctor right away. Normally, a simple course of antibiotics will clear up the pus and the infection and will promote wound healing. Waiting can mean delaying healing and risking your overall health.

Pus can also be a source of infection to others, especially when there is a lot of it. If you are helping others treat an infected wound, or treating your own, you definitely want to observe excellent handwashing techniques each time you touch the wound. If you’re caring for someone else and have an infected wound, you want to keep this completely covered with bandages so as not to infect others. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to staph infections.

Often, our body makes pus that we never see. For example, doctors often diagnose ear infections by noting pus in the ear canal. Organs can also be filled with pus, signalling serious infections. Sometimes a person might notice a thick yellowish or whitish fluid while urinating, suggesting a bladder infection which should be checked out by a doctor.

As ironic as it may seem, however, a small amount of pus, particularly in a pimple, is a sign of good health. People who don’t produce enough neutrophils also don’t produce enough pus, and can have a terrible time fighting off infections. In people with healthy immune systems, a simple pus filled pimple suggests your body is working as it should.

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Gumboils are rather like pimples, except they occur on the gums instead of on the face or neck. They also usually indicate an infection deep in the roots of a tooth, whereas pimples tend to merely indicate a blocked pore or hair follicle. Gumboils can occur at any time and are usually caused by gum disease, or a tooth that has died or that has severely infected roots. Infection from the root of the tooth pushes outward to the gum creating a small to large pus filled pocket that can feel very painful.

Occasionally the gumboil will show up and may recess and emerge again. Some people may have scarring that looks like but doesn’t feel like gum boils. Small hard bumps on the inside of the cheeks could be the result of repeated biting of the cheek, or hardening from wearing braces from several years. There are other things that may be confused with gumboils.

Such boils can also look like a canker sore, especially since these tend to burst also. You can usually tell the difference though because the canker sore may react more readily to irritation with acids, and they resolve within a few days without treatment. Canker sores can also occur on the tongue, the insides of the mouth, the roof of the mouth, and on the lips.

Dentists recommend that you make an appointment to see a dentist if you have a gumboil since it almost always indicates a problem and infection with an underlying tooth. The boils can get very large, and they can pop and drain pus, which tastes very bitter. This doesn’t usually resolve the infection, because the gumboil could be called an outward expression of a deeply hidden infection.

When a dentist sees you, he will typically use x-rays to look for underlying tooth infection and the dentist may drain the boil to offer some relief. Antibiotics are very often prescribed, since infection at the root of the tooth must be addressed usually before a person can undergo a root canal or tooth extraction if necessary. When gum disease is the cause, occasionally planing the roots, making them smooth, and scaling the teeth can help resolve the condition.

Sometimes gumboils occur if a person has a piece of food imbedded in the root of a tooth. These may resolve when the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and the irritant removed. Dentists do say that gumboils should be taken seriously, since they can very often mean a tooth is endangered without treatment. There is also the real possibility of blood infection if infection is allowed to remain.

Some people are especially prone to gumboils. These include people with autoimmune conditions and with diabetes. Regular teeth cleaning and dental care can help stave off certain infections in most people, but not always. It can also help to use a softer bristle brush, since sometimes gumboils can result from cuts and repeated abuse of the gums from harder bristled toothbrushes.

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A hoof abscess is a painful infection on the foot of your horse. It is usually located either on the bottom of the foot, the “frog” of the foot, the heel, or the coronet band (or coronary band, which connects the hairline and hoof). A hoof abscess is the most common of abscesses that a horse encounters. Other common abscesses are on the neck or hind end, resulting from an injection.

Hoof abscesses are very painful and your horse will show signs of visible lameness. This expression of tenderness and inability of free movement can show up anywhere on the foot, leg or shoulder. If you are suspicious that your horse has a hoof abscess, you should check for heat and sensitivity. Pick up the hoof and feel for any signs of excessive or localized heat. Next, check for sensitivity by using a hoof pick and taping the bottom of the foot and frog to see if there is an isolated area of tenderness.

Most hoof abscesses are the result of a foreign object such as a nail that has penetrated the bottom of the foot or an imbedded rock that has bruised the soft tissue. Because the feet and lower limbs generally have slow circulation, digestive problems have been known to show up in the lower extremities in the form of hoof abscesses.

Treatment should begin by soaking the hoof in a bucket of warm water and Epsom salts for 10 minutes. This will draw out the infection. Normally your horse will feel relief from the soaking and stand contentedly.

After soaking, dry the foot and while your horse is standing on a clean towel, prepare a poultice of Epsom salts and gentle iodine. If you prefer, you can add an anti-bacterial/anti-fungal cream such as nitrofurazone (furazone) to the poultice. Please note that nitrofurazone is toxic and you should wear gloves while using this product. If your skin comes in contact with it, wash the area immediately.

Next, pack the frog with the poultice and then cover with a sterile gauze. To secure the area, wrap with vetwrap and cover with duct tape. Medicine boots may also be used to protect the site if they are available. Your horse will appreciate the cushion and it will relieve some of his discomfort. Repeat this procedure two times daily.

Hoof abscesses require stall rest or restricted activity. It is important to walk your horse several times a day but be vigilant that the abscess is not aggravated. Massaging the leg to stimulate circulation will also speed up the healing process.

Within a few days the hoof abscess will rupture and begin to drain. This is a sign of success for your efforts and relief for your horse. It is important to continue to soak the site and allow healing to continue from the inside out. This is the point where your horse will become more active and want to resume his normal routine. It is acceptable to begin turn out but he should not be put back into work until all signs of lameness are gone. If you follow these simple guidelines, you should have no lasting implications from a hoof abscess.

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