At an isolated weather station in the central United States, a technician emerges from a small brick shed grasping a balloon. It's not just any birthday party balloon, mind you, but a massive, white sphere more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter.
Lung abscess can also be caused by the spread of other infections from the liver, abdominal cavity, or open chest wounds. Rarely, AIDS patients can develop lung abscess from Pneumocystis carinii and other organisms that take advantage of a weakened immune system. Lung abscess is usually slow to develop.
An abscess is an infection of the soft tissue that results in a pooling of pus. They are typically caused by bacteria, parasites or foreign substances. When near the surface of the skin, abscesses are obvious to the eye, appearing red and swollen. Abscesses are often painful.