Boil (patient information)

Boil

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Boil?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, M.B.B.S. [2]

## Overview

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A boil is a skin infection involving an entire hair follicle and nearby skin tissue.

## What are the symptoms of Boil?

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A boil may begin as a tender, pinkish-red, swollen, firm area in the skin. Over time, it will feel like a water-filled balloon or cyst.

Pain gets worse as it fills with pus and dead tissue, and improves as it drains. It may drain on its own. More often the patient or someone else opens the boil.

The boil:

* Is usually pea-sized, but may be as large as a golf ball
* May develop white or yellow centers (pustules)
* May join with another boil or spread to other skin areas
* May grow quickly
* May weep, ooze, or crust

Other symptoms may include:

* Fatigue
* Fever
* General ill-feeling
* Itching before the boil develops
* Skin redness around the boil

## What causes Boil?

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Boils are very common. They are generally caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but they may be caused by other bacteria or fungi found on the skin's surface. Damage to the hair follicle allows these bacteria to enter deeper into the tissues of the follicle and the tissue underneath.

Boils may occur in the hair follicles anywhere on the body. They are most common on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. There can be one or many boils.

## Diagnosis

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The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. A culture may show staphylococcus or other bacteria.

## Treatment options

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Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. More often, they increase in discomfort as pus collects.

Boils usually must open and drain before they will heal. This usually occurs in less than 2 weeks.

* Warm, moist compresses help boils drain, which speeds healing. Gently soak the area with a warm, moist cloth several times each day.
* Never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. This can spread the infection and make it worse.
* When the boil finally does burst and drain, continue to put warm, wet compresses on the area.

Deep or large boils may need to be drained with surgery by a health care provider. Treatment by a health care provider is needed if:

* A boil lasts longer than 2 weeks
* A boil comes back
* The boil is on the spine or the middle of the face
* The boil occurs with a fever or other symptoms, because the infection may spread and cause complications

Careful hygiene is important:

* Clean draining boils often.
* Wash your hands very well after touching a boil.
* Do not re-use or share washcloths or towels. Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that contact infected areas in very hot (preferably boiling) water.
* Change dressings often and throw them out with the drainage, such as by placing them in a bag that can be closed tightly before throwing it out.

Antibacterial soaps and antibiotics placed on the skin are of little help once a boil has formed. Antibiotics taken by mouth or given as a shot may help a more severe infection or if the boil returns.

## Where to find medical care for Boil?

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Directions to Hospitals Treating Boil

## What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

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Some people have repeated abscesses and are unable to prevent them.

Boils can be very painful if they occur in areas like the ear canal or nose. A health care provider should treat boils of the nose.

Boils that form close together may expand and join, causing a condition called carbunculosis.

## Possible complications

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* Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organ
* Brain infection
* Endocarditis
* Osteomyelitis
* Permanent scarring
* Sepsis
* Spinal cord infection
* Spread of infection to other parts of the body or skin surfaces

## When to seek urgent medical care?

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Call for an appointment with your health care provider if boils:

* Appear on the face or spine
* Do not heal with home treatment within 1 week
* Occur along with a fever, red streaks coming out from the sore, large fluid collections around the boil, or other symptoms

## Prevention

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The following may help prevent the spread of infection:

* Antibacterial soaps
* Antiseptic (germ-killing) washes
* Good hygiene (such as thorough handwashing)

## Sources

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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001474.htm

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