youmay need more than just oral antibiotics for some Abcsesses. I had an abscess in my ankle from shooting heroin in a bathtub at a motel (yea the dirty water caused an infection) I was completely nieve with abcesses, so after day 4 of a hard lump, it grew to the size of a half dollar or a bit bigger, was purple,. and puss started to leak out, I was admitted to the hospital for 3 days, I almost needed plastic surgery..the wound was as deep from my one ankle bone almost reaching the other side of my ankle, they said if I waited a few days longer that my foot would of needed amputation, whenever an abcess forms,. go to the ER IMMEDIATELY to get it cut off and have some antibioics administered before it gets worse..its not a joke or anything to try to cure on ur own....