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Boil

Medical Questions » Boil
Name: Boil
Also known as: Furuncle
A small superficial abscess.
Causes of Boil
A hair follicle infected by bacteria. People who are very hairy will develop more boils. Commonly affected areas are the armpits, buttocks and groin.
Symptoms of Boil
Acutely painful, red and tender lump. Gradually enlarges, causing more and more pain until it ruptures, discharging pus.
Tests for Boil
Patients with diabetes or kidney failure are particularly susceptible to boils, and recurrent attacks should lead a doctor to exclude these diseases as a cause.
Treatment for Boil
Antibiotic tablets, applying antiseptic or antibiotic ointment to the boil, and when pus is obviously present, lancing the boil with a scalpel or needle. Repeated attacks may require long-term antibiotic treatment, antiseptic soaps and antiseptic lotions applied regularly.
Complications of Boil of its treatment
Infection can spread to cause boils in other areas. In severe cases, the infection may enter the blood stream to cause septicemia. Boils should never be squeezed, as the pus they contain may rupture internally, and spread through the blood stream to the brain and other vital organs. A carbuncle is several boils in a limited area that join together to form an interconnecting infected mass that will degenerate into an abscess.
Likely Outcome of Boil
Most infections settle quickly with treatment.
       
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