Boils, Carbuncles and Furunculosis
Boils and carbuncles are pus-filled infected lumps
on the skin. They usually occur as a 'one-off' in a
healthy person. Treatment commonly involves
draining the pus, and a course of antibiotics. If you
have recurring boils you may be advised to have
tests to check for an underlying cause.
on the skin. They usually occur as a 'one-off' in a
healthy person. Treatment commonly involves
draining the pus, and a course of antibiotics. If you
have recurring boils you may be advised to have
tests to check for an underlying cause.
What are boils and carbuncles?
A boil (furuncle) is an infection of a hair follicle.
(Most of the skin is covered with tiny hairs which
grow out of hair follicles.) It is usually caused by a
bacterium (germ) called Staphylococcus aureus. A
boil looks like a small red lump on the skin which is
tender. The surrounding skin may be swollen and
inflamed. Pus (thick, infected fluid) fills the centre
of the boil.
A carbuncle occurs when a group of hair follicles
next to each other become infected. (It is like a
'multiple boil'.)
Chronic furunculosis is a condition where you have
crops of boils that occur over a period of time. The
boils can develop continuously, or occur from time
to time.
Who gets boils and where do they develop?
Boils can develop in any hairy area of the skin. In
particular, in sites where there is friction, or
where the skin is sweaty. For example, the neck,
face, armpit, arms, wrists, buttocks, and around
the anus. Carbuncles most commonly develop on
the back of the neck or on the thighs.
A boil or carbuncle can occur in anyone at any age.
However, they are uncommon in children, and
most commonly occur in teenagers and young
adults. You have a higher risk of developing a boil
or carbuncle if you have:
other skin conditions which may cause you to
scratch and damage the skin. For example, eczema
or scabies.
obesity.
a poor immune system.
an illness making you frail or generally unwell.
you are a 'carrier' of Staphylococcus bacteria (see
below).
What is the treatment for a boil or carbuncle?
Small boils may subside and go without any
treatment. You can ease pain by covering the boil
with a flannel soaked in hot water. Do this for 30
minutes, 3-4 times a day.
Larger boils and carbuncles are best treated by
letting the pus out. Sometimes this is done by a
doctor who drains the pus using a needle and
syringe. Sometimes a small cut in the skin is
needed to let out the pus ('incision and drainage').
The wound is covered with a dressing until the skin
heals. The skin usually heals quickly once the pus
has been drained.
A course of antibiotics is often prescribed in
addition to draining the pus to help clear the
infection from the skin.
What if they are not treated?
A boil may get larger, and more tense and painful
as more pus accumulates. Typically, after several
days (sometimes after a week or more) the boil
will 'burst' and pus will leak onto the skin. The
pain tends to ease when the boil bursts. Once the
pus has gone, the infection in the surrounding skin
tends to gradually fade away over several days. A
scar may be left at the site of the boil.
A carbuncle tends to increase in size for a few days
up to 3-10 centimetres across, sometimes more.
After 5-7 days, various pus-filled lumps appear on
the surface and pus leaks onto the skin. It then
may 'break down' and form an ulcer on the skin
surface before the infection gradually subsides.
The skin then gradually heals leaving a deep scar.
Whilst there is infection and pus in the skin, there
is a risk that some bacteria may spread in the
bloodstream to cause infections in other parts of
the body. This is uncommon, but if it happens it
can lead to serious infections of a bone, the brain,
or other parts of the body.
Recurring boils (chronic furunculosis)
If you develop recurring boils, your doctor may
suggest some tests to look for an underlying cause.
For example, to check if you have a poor immune
system.
One cause of recurring boils if you are otherwise
healthy is that you, or someone in your family or
household, may be a 'carrier' of Staphylococcus
bacteria. This means that a certain number of
these bacteria live harmlessly on your skin, or in
your nose. If you are a 'carrier' you tend to be
more prone to skin infections and boils. In
particular, these bacteria may quickly invade and
multiply in broken skin following a minor cut or
injury. Treatment with antibiotics and/or
antibiotic nasal cream may clear Staphylococcus
bacteria from 'carriers' and reduce the chance of
boils, or other types of skin infection, from
recurring.
A boil (furuncle) is an infection of a hair follicle.
(Most of the skin is covered with tiny hairs which
grow out of hair follicles.) It is usually caused by a
bacterium (germ) called Staphylococcus aureus. A
boil looks like a small red lump on the skin which is
tender. The surrounding skin may be swollen and
inflamed. Pus (thick, infected fluid) fills the centre
of the boil.
A carbuncle occurs when a group of hair follicles
next to each other become infected. (It is like a
'multiple boil'.)
Chronic furunculosis is a condition where you have
crops of boils that occur over a period of time. The
boils can develop continuously, or occur from time
to time.
Who gets boils and where do they develop?
Boils can develop in any hairy area of the skin. In
particular, in sites where there is friction, or
where the skin is sweaty. For example, the neck,
face, armpit, arms, wrists, buttocks, and around
the anus. Carbuncles most commonly develop on
the back of the neck or on the thighs.
A boil or carbuncle can occur in anyone at any age.
However, they are uncommon in children, and
most commonly occur in teenagers and young
adults. You have a higher risk of developing a boil
or carbuncle if you have:
other skin conditions which may cause you to
scratch and damage the skin. For example, eczema
or scabies.
obesity.
a poor immune system.
an illness making you frail or generally unwell.
you are a 'carrier' of Staphylococcus bacteria (see
below).
What is the treatment for a boil or carbuncle?
Small boils may subside and go without any
treatment. You can ease pain by covering the boil
with a flannel soaked in hot water. Do this for 30
minutes, 3-4 times a day.
Larger boils and carbuncles are best treated by
letting the pus out. Sometimes this is done by a
doctor who drains the pus using a needle and
syringe. Sometimes a small cut in the skin is
needed to let out the pus ('incision and drainage').
The wound is covered with a dressing until the skin
heals. The skin usually heals quickly once the pus
has been drained.
A course of antibiotics is often prescribed in
addition to draining the pus to help clear the
infection from the skin.
What if they are not treated?
A boil may get larger, and more tense and painful
as more pus accumulates. Typically, after several
days (sometimes after a week or more) the boil
will 'burst' and pus will leak onto the skin. The
pain tends to ease when the boil bursts. Once the
pus has gone, the infection in the surrounding skin
tends to gradually fade away over several days. A
scar may be left at the site of the boil.
A carbuncle tends to increase in size for a few days
up to 3-10 centimetres across, sometimes more.
After 5-7 days, various pus-filled lumps appear on
the surface and pus leaks onto the skin. It then
may 'break down' and form an ulcer on the skin
surface before the infection gradually subsides.
The skin then gradually heals leaving a deep scar.
Whilst there is infection and pus in the skin, there
is a risk that some bacteria may spread in the
bloodstream to cause infections in other parts of
the body. This is uncommon, but if it happens it
can lead to serious infections of a bone, the brain,
or other parts of the body.
Recurring boils (chronic furunculosis)
If you develop recurring boils, your doctor may
suggest some tests to look for an underlying cause.
For example, to check if you have a poor immune
system.
One cause of recurring boils if you are otherwise
healthy is that you, or someone in your family or
household, may be a 'carrier' of Staphylococcus
bacteria. This means that a certain number of
these bacteria live harmlessly on your skin, or in
your nose. If you are a 'carrier' you tend to be
more prone to skin infections and boils. In
particular, these bacteria may quickly invade and
multiply in broken skin following a minor cut or
injury. Treatment with antibiotics and/or
antibiotic nasal cream may clear Staphylococcus
bacteria from 'carriers' and reduce the chance of
boils, or other types of skin infection, from
recurring.
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