Boil

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This article is about the contagious skin disease. For the change in state from liquid to gas, see Boiling. For other uses, see Boil (disambiguation).

Boils
Furuncle
Specialty
Symptoms
  • Painful
  • small
  • rough skin growth
Causes

A boil, also called a furuncle, is a deep

bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by an accumulation of pus and dead tissue.[1] Boils are therefore basically pus-filled nodules.[2] Individual boils clustered together are called carbuncles.[3]
Most human infections are caused by coagulase-positive S. aureus strains, notable for the bacteria's ability to produce coagulase, an enzyme that can clot blood. Almost any organ system can be infected by S. aureus.

Signs and symptoms

Boils are bumpy, red,

hematologic disorders.[7] Boils can be caused by other skin conditions that cause the person to scratch and damage the skin.[citation needed
]

Boils may appear on the buttocks or near the anus, the back, the neck, the belly, the chest, the arms or legs, or even in the ear canal.[8] Boils may also appear around the eye, where they are called styes.[9] A boil on the gum is called intraoral dental sinus, or more commonly, a gumboil.[citation needed]

Complications

The most common

food poisoning, septic shock, toxic shock syndrome, and scalded skin syndrome.[11] Almost any organ system can be infected by S. aureus. Squeezing or cutting boils in the danger triangle of the face can be particularly dangerous if done outside a medical setting, as blood vessels in this area drain into the brain and can carry serious infections there.[citation needed
]

When a boil bursts, a seemingly solid, whitish colored pus initially appears then the pus and some blood follows.[citation needed]

Causes

Bacteria

Naturally the cause is bacteria such as

diabetes mellitus, obesity, lymphoproliferative neoplasms, malnutrition, and use of immunosuppressive drugs.[13]

Family history

People with recurrent boils are as well more likely to have a positive family history, take antibiotics, and to have been hospitalised,

anemic, or diabetic; they are also more likely to have associated skin diseases and multiple lesions.[14]

Other

Other causes include poor immune system function such as from HIV/AIDS, diabetes, malnutrition, or alcoholism.[15] Poor hygiene and obesity have also been linked.[15] It may occur following antibiotic use due to the development of resistance to the antibiotics used.[16] An associated skin disease favors recurrence. This may be attributed to the persistent colonization of abnormal skin with S. aureus strains, such as is the case in persons with atopic dermatitis.[16] Boils which recur under the arm, breast or in the groin area may be associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).[17]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation by a physician, which may include culturing of the lesion.[18]

Treatment

A boil may clear up on its own without bursting, but more often it will need to be opened and drained. This will usually happen spontaneously within two weeks. Regular application of a

warm moist compress, both before and after a boil opens, can help speed healing. The area must be kept clean, hands washed after touching it, and any dressings disposed of carefully, in order to avoid spreading the bacteria. A doctor may cut open or "lance" a boil to allow it to drain, but squeezing or cutting should not be attempted at home, as this may further spread the infection. Antibiotic therapy may be recommended for large or recurrent boils or those that occur in sensitive areas (such as the groin, breasts, armpits, around or in the nostrils, or in the ear).[1][4][5][6] An antibiotic should not be used for longer than one month, with at least two months (preferably longer) between uses, otherwise it will lose its effectiveness.[19] If the patient has chronic (more than two years) boils, removal by plastic surgery may be indicated.[citation needed
]

Furuncles at risk of leading to serious complications should be incised and drained if antibiotics or steroid injections are not effective. These include furuncles that are unusually large, last longer than two weeks, or occur in the middle of the face or near the spine.[1][6] Fever and chills are signs of sepsis and indicate immediate treatment.[20]

Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance easily, making treatment difficult. Knowledge of the antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus is important in the selection of antimicrobials for treatment.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Furuncle
  2. ^ "Causes and Cures of Skin". Healthguidance.org. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  3. ^ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Carbuncle
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-323-02409-2
    .
  5. ^ a b c d Habif, TP (2004). "Furuncles and carbuncles". Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy (4th ed.). Philadelphia PA: Mosby.
  6. ^ a b c d e Wolf K; et al. (2005). "Section 22. Bacterial infections involving the skin". Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  7. PMID 7356349
    .
  8. ^ "Boils, Carbuncles and Furunculosis". Patient.info. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Boils, Kidshealth". 13 September 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  10. PMID 10524952
    .
  11. ^ "Staph Infection Causes, Symptoms, Treatment – Staph Infection Diagnosis". eMedicineHealth.
  12. PMID 14531984
    .
  13. ^ Scheinfeld NS (2007). "Furunculosis". Consultant. 47 (2). Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  14. PMID 19281721
    .
  15. ^
    S2CID 25415894
    .
  16. ^
    S2CID 24264303
    .
  17. ^ "What is this boil like abscess under your arm, breast or groin". The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Trust. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Furuncles and Carbuncles". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. August 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  19. ^ Mayo Clinic Archived 15 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Boils and carbuncles: Complications - MayoClinic.com". Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  21. S2CID 38742158
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Furuncles.
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