Kentucky Cosmetology State Practice Exam 2026 - Free Cosmetology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The infection characterized by redness, swelling, and pus is a bacterial infection. Bacteria can invade the body through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes, leading to inflammation as the immune system responds. This response typically manifests as redness and swelling due to increased blood flow and the accumulation of immune cells at the site of infection. The production of pus, which consists of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris, is also a hallmark of bacterial infections.

In contrast, fungal infections often present with irritation and itchiness rather than the pronounced swelling and pus seen in bacterial infections. Viral infections might involve redness or swelling but are more commonly accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever and fatigue rather than localized pus formation. Parasitic infections can cause various symptoms, but pus is generally not a characteristic feature of these types of infections either. Thus, when one observes symptoms of redness, swelling, and pus, it strongly indicates a bacterial origin.