What is a gluteal abscess?

According to WebMD, an abscess is an infection caused by an obstruction of a gland in the skin, hair follicle or break in the skin. The journal Rheumatology notes that a gluteal abscess involves one of these infections in the gluteal muscles of the buttocks.

Rheumatology and Annals of Thoracic Medicine remark that gluteal abscesses are generally treated by draining pus and debris from the abscess and taking antibiotics. A gluteal abscess may manifest as tenderness or swelling in the buttock and cause more general signs of infection, such as high temperature or abnormal vital signs. Gluteal abcesses are usually caused by bacteria.