| Boils, referred to as furuncles by medical professionals, are
round pus filled bumps on the skin that result from infection with the
bacteria staphylococcus aureus. The infection begins in the deepest portion of
a hair follicle, and then the bacteria bore into the skin's deeper layers and the inflammation spreads. Poor nutrition, illness that has depressed immune function,
diabetes mellitus, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs are common contributing factors. This disorder is common, especially
among children and adolescents. Boils often appear on the scalp, buttocks, face, or underarms. They are
red colored, tender, and painful, and appear suddenly. Symptoms of a boil
include: itching, mild pain, and swelling. Within twenty-four hours, a boil will become red and filled with pus.
Both fever and swelling of the lymph glands nearest the boil may occur. Boils are contagious. The pus that drains when a boil opens can contaminate
nearby skin, causing new boils, or can enter the bloodstream and spread to other body parts.
A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that occurs when the infection spreads and other boils are formed. The formation of a
carbuncle may be an indication of immune depression.
Without treatment, a boil usually comes to ahead, opens, drains, and heals in ten to twenty-five days. With treatment, symptoms are less severe and new boils should not appear. Again poor nutrition can be a major
factor in boils. |