The food you consume on a daily basis can either improve or decrease your health. If you have a pus infection, there are certain foods you should avoid since they can delay wound healing. Below we look at what pus is, the causes and which foods you need to avoid in order to speed up recovery.
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What Is Pus?
Pus is a whitish, yellow like fluid that can form on any part of the body especially when someone has experienced either a skin infection or an internal infection. So, when there is harmful bacteria in a person’s body, the immune system can detect this bacteria and it usually sends out the white blood cells called leukocytes to defend your body. The actions taken by your immune system to fight off the bacteria will usually result in the production of pus. So in other words pus is simply white blood cells combined with the dead bacteria that they were battling. Pus can also have a pink, red or even brown like color. It can also have a foul smelling odor.
Foods To Avoids During Pus Infection
As noted earlier on in this article, the food one takes can greatly affect their health. So if you have pus infection, there are certain foods which you are not allowed to consume as they can delay the healing process. Below are some of the foods you need to stay away from during that period.
Caffeine
When you have a pus infection, you need to avoid eating foods that have caffeine in them. This is because caffeine slows down the healing process of wounds. Research indicates that caffeine restricts cellular proliferation of keratinocytes and delays cell migration over the wound surface. So if you want your pus infection to heal quicker its best to avoid caffeine.
Fried Foods/ Fast Foods
Fried foods or fast foods should be avoided when you have a pus infection. This is because they are high in fat and low in nutrients that help with wound healing. So consuming these foods will not do you any good if you have an infection.
Alcohol
Alcohol should be avoided when you have a pus infection. This is because it can interfere with the medication you will be taking. If you consume alcohol whilst you are on antibiotics you may face severe side effects like nausea, headache, vomiting etc.
Soda
When you have pus infection you should avoid drinking sodas. This is because they have a high sugar contain and they do not contain any vitamins or minerals that can help to speed up the wound healing process.
Fortified Foods
If you have a pus infection and are on antibiotics you need to avoid eating fortified foods. This is because they contain a high amount of calcium which can interfere with the antibiotics you are taking. Therefore, if you want to speed up the healing process you have to remove fortified foods from your diet.
Cheese
If you have a pus infection you need to avoid eating cheese. This is mainly because cheese is rich in calcium so if you are taking antibiotics they can end up not working. Calcium and antibiotics usually work against each other. The antibiotics can end up binding to the calcium which prevents it from being absorbed into the body. So if you want your infection to heal better, its best to sacrifice cheese for just a few days until the infection goes away.
Dairy Milk
Dairy milk is high in calcium which can interfere with your medication if you have a pus infection. So you can always try other plant based milks during these periods.
High Acid Foods
During a pus infection you have to avoid eating foods that have a high acid content. Some of these foods include oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes etc. If you have been put on medication, foods that are acidic may decrease the absorption of medication in your body. Therefore, you need to cut them off until you have recovered.
Sugary Foods
If you have a pus infection you need to avoid eating sugary foods. This is because they suppress the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. So until your infection goes away you need to stay away from foods that have too much sugar in them.
High Fiber Foods
If you have a pus infection and are on medication, you need to avoid eating foods that are high in fiber. Some of these foods include whole grains, lentils and beans. This is mainly because these foods decrease the body’s ability to absorb medication into the bloodstream.
Food To Take During Pus Infection
Since you now have list of what kind of foods you cannot take during pus infection, it’s important that you also have a list of recommended foods. Below are some of the common foods you can eat when you have a pus infection. They will help to ensure that the infection goes away within a few days.
Vegetables
When you have a pus infection you should eat a lot of vegetables that are rich in vitamin K like cauliflower and broccoli. This is because if you are taking antibiotics during a pus infection, you may experience a slight vitamin K deficiency so you need to make up for it by consuming vegetables.
Probiotics
Taking foods that have probiotics in them can help to speed up healing in your body. So if you have a pus infection it is recommended that you eat yoghurt, kefir or even take probiotic supplements.
Fermented Foods
If you have a pus infection and are on medication it is highly recommended that you eat fermented foods. This is because they will improve your gut health making it easier for your body to absorb the medication. Some of the fermented foods you can try out include kimchi, miso and fermented vegetables.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil helps to reduce your risk of developing an antibiotic related yeast infection. So if you are a lady and you have a pus infection, its best that you start using coconut oil especially if you are on medication.
Soup
If you have a pus infection you should eat a lot of soup but make sure it doesn’t contain ingredients like tomatoes, cream or cheese. Eating a lot of soup will help to build a strong immune system.
Causes Of Pus
Skin Infections
Skin infections are the main causes of pus in humans. Pus that is usually caused by skin infections is visible and usually accompanied by redness, pain, tenderness and swelling of the skin. Below are some of the specific types of skin conditions that can cause pus infection.
- Boils or Furuncles– this is a condition is caused by infected and inflamed hair follicles.
- Acne– when pores are clogged with oil and dirt.
- Carbuncles– this condition is caused by a group of connected boils.
- Folliculitis– caused by the infection of one or more pockets from which hair grows.
- Trauma wounds– usually caused by injury or physical trauma and the wounds swell up.
- Superficial Surgical Site Infection (SSI) – an infection that develops beneath the incision area in muscles and tissues.
Internal Infections
Pus can also be caused by an internal infection which can either result from an internal injury, surgical complications, fungal infections or untreated bacteria. When the infection is internal it can affect the mouth and other internal organs. Below are some of the most common internal infections that can cause a pus infection.
- Septic arthritis– this is a joint infection that is caused by bacteria that travels from the bloodstream to the joint thus resulting in a pus infection.
- Dental Infection– this usually results in an abscessed tooth.
- Deep Surgical Site Infection– an infection that develops in the muscles and other tissues.
- Empyema– an infection that occurs in the space between the lungs and the chest walls.
- Peritonsillar abscess– an infection that happens at the back of the throat or behind the tonsils.
- Brain– a bacteria or fungal that develops in the brain.
- Urinary Tract Infection– an infection that forms in the urinary tract.
Signs And Symptoms Of Pus Infection
When you have a pus infection, your body changes in different ways depending on where the pus is located. Below we are going to be looking at the different body parts where a pus may form and which signs you should look out for.
Mouth
In order to identify whether you have a pus infection in your mouth you can either check your gums or your throat. If you have a pus infection on the gums you will develop an abscess near the root canal of your teeth. If it is on your throat, you will develop a thick pocket of pus at the back of your throat.
Eyes
If your eyes have a pus infection you will notice a yellowish thick discharge coming out of your eyes. Pus infection in eyes is usually caused by bacterial disease known as pink eye.
Ears
Pus infection can form in the ear and usually when the ear is infected it will pass out a thick whitish, yellow like fluid.
Urinary Tract
Pus infection can happen in the urinary tract and the best way to know whether you have one is to check your urine. If you have this infection, your urine will be a bit cloudy.
Fingers
The fingers can also get this infection if the hair follicle or oil glands get infected by a bacteria. When a finger is infected it usually swells up, appears to be red and it can also be very sore and tender.
Belly Button
Pus infection can also happen on the belly button area. This usually happens when someone has undergone abdominal surgery. When the belly button is infected it passes out a whitish, yellow like thick fluid.
Lungs
Pus infection can also develop on the lungs. This usually happens when the body experiences and internal infection. People who have this infection on their lungs usually experience shortness of breath.
Wounds
If you have an open wound on your skin there is a good chance that they will develop a pus infection when it is not properly cared for. When wounds are infected with pus, they usually develop a thick yellowish, whitish fluid.
Face
The face can also develop pus infection especially when there is acne around the face. When acne is infected it will pass out a yellow or whitish thick fluid.
Bikini And Armpit Area
The bikini and armpit area can also develop pus infection. This usually occurs when one uses a razor to shave those areas. This results in razor bumps that can cause ingrown hairs that later develop pus.
How To Treat Pus Infection
If you have a pus infection you will need to see a doctor so that he or she can take a closer look at the infected area. In some cases, the doctor can offer you antibiotics which you can either take orally or as an ointment on the affected area. In some instances the doctor may conduct a drainage procedure in order to remove the pus. Surgical remove of the infected tissues can also be done depending on the severity of the infection.
What Foods Get Rid Of Pus?
There is no specific kind of food that can get rid of pus however, there are certain foods you can take that can help to boost the nutritional levels of your body so that your immune system can be in a better position to fight off the infection. Pus can either be drained, surgically removed or you can get antibiotics.
What Is The Safest Way To Cure Pus?
The safest way to cure pus is to use antibiotics. This is because they will just clear the infection and you do not need any surgical treatment to be done on you. In order to get the antibiotics, you will need a prescription from your doctor.
Final Words
Dealing with pus infection can be a bit complicated which is why it’s always important to eat healthy food so that your body can always be in the right state to fight off the infection.
