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Boils
Aboil,orfuruncle,isaninfectionofahairfolliclecausedbythebacteriumStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).Thiscommonbacteriuminhabitstheskin,andapproximatelyonethirdofthe populationcarrythegermintheirnoses.S. aureusisusuallyharmless,butitcancausearangeof mildtosevereinfections,ifitgainsaccesstodeepertissues.Certainareasofthebodyaremore susceptibletoboils,includingtheface,throat,armpits,groinandbuttocks.Aboilontheeyelidis knownasastye.Acarbuncleisanaggregateofconnectedfurunclesandhasseveralpustular openings.Boilsusuallyresolvebythemselves,butsevereorrecurringcasesrequiremedical treatment.Optionsincludelancinganddrainingtheboil,andantibiotics.

Ima ge des crip

Symptoms of boils
Theevolutionofaboilincludes: Asmallareaofskinbecomesinflamedandtender Apainfullumpappears Afterafewdays,awhiteoryellowheadforms Theboilbursts Thepusdrainsout Thesiteheals Ascarmayform,dependingontheseverityoftheboil.

Risk factors for boils

Cuts,abrasionsorscratchesallowthebacteriatogainaccesstodeepertissues.Certainfactors makeapersonmoresusceptibletooutbreaksofboils,including: Diabetesrecurringboilsmaybesymptomaticofuncontrolleddiabetes,especiallyfor peopleagedover40years. Poor hygienesweatanddeadskincellsinnaturalcreasesandcrevices,suchasthe armpit,provideahospitablehomeforbacteria. Nutritioninadequatenutritionmayreduceapersonsnaturalimmunity. Broken skinotherskinconditions,suchaseczema,canbreaktheskinsurface.

Other infections
Staphylococcusbacteriacancausearangeofinfections,fromrelativelymildtosevereandlife threatening.Thereisasmallriskthatbacteriamayspreadfromtheboiltootherareasofthe body.Infectioncancauseinflammationofmanyorgansandtissues,including: Bone(osteomyelitis) Heart(endocarditis) Lung(pneumonia) Meninges,themembranesliningthecentralnervoussystem(meningitis) Skin(impetigo) Vein(septicphlebitis).

Self-help options
Suggestionsfortreatingaboilinclude:

Boils

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Resistthetemptationtosqueezetheboil. Washtheboilwithantisepticsoap. Applyahotcompressfor10minutesorso,threetimesdaily,toencouragetheboilto cometoahead. Coveraburstboilwithabandaid. Washyourhandsthoroughlytopreventthespreadofinfection. Usefreshtowelseverytimeyouwashanddrytheinfectedareas. Seeyourdoctoriftheboilisntimprovingafterafewdays.

Treatment for boils

Medicaltreatmentforasevereboilmayincludeantibioticsandlancing.Boilsaroundtheeyesand noseshouldalwaysbetreatedbyadoctor,becausetheinfectionmayaccessthebloodstreamand reachthebrain.Furunculosisreferstorecurringoutbreaksofboils.Treatmentincludes: Checkingforunderlyingdisorders,suchasdiabetes. Longtermuseofantibioticstoridthebodyofinfection. Useofantisepticshampoosandsoaps. Antibioticcreamsappliedtothenasalmembranes,becauseS. aureuscommonlyinhabits thenose. Strictattentiontopersonalhygiene. Frequentlaunderingofallbeddingandtowels. Insomecases,othermembersofthehouseholdwillneedsimilartreatment,sinceS. aureusiscontagious.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor Chemist Dermatologist.

Things to remember

Aboilisaninfectionofahairfollicle,causedbythebacteriumStaphylococcus aureus. Boilsusuallyresolvebythemselves,butsevereorrecurringcasesrequiremedical attention. Medicaltreatmentmayincludeantibioticsandlancing.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

NorthEastValleyDivisionofGeneralPractice
Contentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforeducationandinformationpurposesonly.Information aboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotimplyendorsementandisnotintendedto replaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Contenthasbeen preparedforVictorianresidentsandwiderAustralianaudiences,andwasaccurateatthetimeof publication.Readersshouldnotethat,overtime,currencyandcompletenessoftheinformation maychange.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessional fordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestions. Forthelatestupdatesandmoreinformation,visitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Copyight 1999/2013StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)atnocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth. Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthecopyrightareprohibitedwithout permission.

Boils

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