Furuncle (boil)

A furun­cle is a deep, puru­lent inflamm­a­ti­on of a hair fol­lic­le and the sur­roun­ding tis­sue. A pain­ful, red­den­ed nodu­le deve­lo­ps that may dischar­ge a plug of pus after a few days. Seve­ral mer­ging furun­cles form a carbuncle.

Cau­ses

Sta­phy­lo­coc­ci are usual­ly respon­si­ble, ente­ring the fol­lic­le through the smal­lest of inju­ries. Fric­tion from clot­hing, shaving, hea­vy swea­ting, dia­be­tes mel­li­tus, excess weight and a wea­k­en­ed immu­ne sys­tem are con­tri­bu­ting fac­tors. Pre­fer­red sites are the neck, buttocks, thighs and armpits.

Sym­ptoms

Typi­cal is a firm, ela­s­tic, very ten­der nodu­le with mark­ed red­ness and warmth, with yel­lo­wish pus visi­ble at its cent­re. In exten­si­ve inflamm­a­ti­on, fever and swol­len lymph nodes are added. Furun­cles on the face, par­ti­cu­lar­ly on the upper lip and nose, requi­re spe­cial caution.

Tre­at­ment

Small furun­cles often heal on their own with dra­wing oint­ment and warm, moist com­pres­ses. Matu­re or lar­ge lesi­ons are ope­ned and drai­ned by a doc­tor, and anti­bio­tics are added in pro­no­un­ced inflamm­a­ti­on. Squeezing them yours­elf is dan­ge­rous, as bac­te­ria can enter the blood­stream; recur­ring furun­cles war­rant inves­ti­ga­ti­on of the cause.