Actinomycosis - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis Description

An uncommon bacterial infection of the skin, particularly the face.

Actinomycosis Cause

The bacteria Actinomycoses  normally live in the mouth and assist with food digestion, but if they enter into damaged tissue in other part of the body they cause an infection in which the bacteria are difficult to identify.

Actinomycosis Symptom

Hard, inflamed lumps in the skin that develop into abscesses and discharge pus. Other areas that may be infected include tooth sockets after an extraction, and the gut.  Other symptoms include a fever, and constant severe pain in any infected area.

Investigation

Swabs taken from discharging pus in an attempt to identify the responsible bacteria.

Actinomycosis Treatment

The infection is resistant to simple treatments, and a 6-week or longer course of penicillin and other antibiotics, initially by injection, is necessary. Abscesses are surgically drained and affected tissue may need to be excised (cut out).

Complications

Abscesses may persist for many months.

Prognosis of Actinomycosis

Cure difficult, but usually possible. Permanent scarring may be left behind.