Furuncle
When a painful, inflamed boil appears on a body, many people try to treat it at home by themselves. They make lotions based on reviews from bloggers or mother's friend, a neighbor, drink antibiotics without effect, but with the development of adverse reactions. This approach is dangerous. Boils (Furuncles) is an acute purulent infection of the skin (inflammation of hair follicle and surrounding fat tissue). And it requires a qualified approach to treatment, often surgical intervention.
In case of contact in time with Universum clinic`s specialist will allow you to quickly and without consequences remove the purulent focus. Unfortunately, the clinic is often approached at an advanced stage of the infection, when it is no longer possible to limit oneself to minimal interventions.
Why the boils are dangerous?
Inflammation is caused by purulent microorganisms, staphylococci and some other bacteria. Once inside the hair follicle, thanks to the inflow of fat from the sebaceous gland, microbes multiply very actively, and inflammation begins.
Inevitable edema leads to the fact that the outflow of sebum and sweat from the hair bag is disturbed, all inflammatory products saturated with staphylococci and their toxins accumulate in one place.
The doctor's help is to form an outflow path for the pus to the outside. Otherwise, there is a risk that the pus will melt the walls of the hair bag, as a result of which purulent inflammation will spread under the skin. Fat-rich fiber is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so purulent inflammation spreads over large areas.
Boils of such localization are especially dangerous in this regard:
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face;
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groin;
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buttocks, perianal skin;
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ENT (ear, nose, throat);
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frontal area;
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neck.
If a boil appears on the face, treatment must be carried out in addition to the appointment of a doctor. And from the beginning of the process, otherwise, in the consequences, there may be scars that contribute to appearance and aesthetics.
Main classification of the boils
In order to appreciate the danger of the disease and the complexity of the procedure, surgeons use classification based on localization:
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extremities;
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soft tissues of the body;
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face, neck, occipital part of the head;
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genitalia regions
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ear, nose, throat.
Boils can appear in any part of the body that can grow hair.
Boils/inflammation has next stages :
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initial infiltration – when pain, hyperemia, swelling starts;
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purulent-necrotic - when purulent discharge appear;
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resolution, when pus is going out of, and wound is starting to heal..
In the event of an unfavorable transition, instead of the present stage of resolution, the pathology progresses, complications develop: a carbuncle is formed, phlegmon spreads, abscess of the soft tissues of the body, ENT organs.
We recommend the consultation with a surgeon at the earliest stage of the process to avoid risk. This will help reduce the costs for treatment, and will allow the faster recovery.
Symptoms of the boils
You should pay attention on the following symptoms:
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pain and swelling appear on any part of the body, in the middle of the ear, near the nose, etc.;
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step by step it`s increase , and start to pulsate;
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Initially, the diameter of the swelling becomes from 0.5 to 2.5 cm and may increase slightly;
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After 3-4 days, after the first symptoms appear, a purulent-necrotic shear forms, which can be seen under the thin, black skin that opens the abscess.
It is necessary to visit a doctor, as soon, as the inflammation/pain starts. In any case, you may need to remove the boil from the affected hair follicle and remove the accumulation of pus. However, there is another possible option: the surgeon simply opens the abscess and creates a drain the pus. There is no risk of expanding infection under the skin.
If medical assistance is given in a timely manner, then it is time to get ready for about a week. The price of recovery and testing of self-remediation - complications, the necessity of big surgical procedures.
Dangerous signs/”Red flags”
We would like to pay attention to the mentioned below typical manifestations, which demonstrates the necessity of treatment in the clinic.
It is obligatory to go to the surgeon, in case if:
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the boil does not change for 4–5 days from the moment it appears;
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strong, pulsating pain, with large swelling;
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a big abscess, its diameter is larger, than is 3–4 cm;
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multiple shear/boils in the center of swelling (this may be a carbuncle);
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When you have fever, general condition is worsened due to fatigue, malaise;
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the redness on the sides of the swelling becomes larger and expands;
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When the swelling of a purulent infection in the genital area, the lymph nodes in the groin will enlarge.
If an abscess has formed on the face in the area of the nose and upper lip, it is also necessary to pay attention to the lymph nodes. The appearance of painful swelling behind the ear, under the lower lip, in the neck area is a sign of an inflamed lymphatic system and a progressive infection.
The urgent assistance of a qualified surgeon is required. Contact Universum clinic: we carry out boil treatment in Kiev, Uzhgorod, Lviv, Chernivtsy and Khmelnitsky following modern protocols. How much is the cost of treatment depends to the to the complexity of the operation : the growth of abscess of soft tissues or other signs.
Specific features of boils in children
We would like to pay attention of parents for the concern of boils in children. The child’s immune system is not fully developed, and it is not safe to cause a single abscess in any localization.
Young children often cannot tell where it hurts. They cry, refusing to eat, have fevver. If the boil is located in the area of buttocks,they refuse to get dressed, cry, when you try to tighten the diaper.
Red swellings on the face of the head, often, early noticed by parents. It is recommended not to spend money on cabbage lotions, and go to the clinic for consultation with pediatrician to clarify the diagnosis and treatment.
Complications
In case of a favorable course, if the boil/swelling is limited to a single hair follicle, without the help of a doctor, a person will have 7 to 10 days of pain and discomfort.
Unfortunately, there can be an complicated course of the process is also possible:
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the shear does not come out and a subcutaneous abscess is formed, after which a deep wound and a rough large scar remain after healing;
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pus melts tissues, phlegmone is formed (typical of the face, limbs, genitals),
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the infection spreads through the lymphatic system, cause lymphangitis and lymphadenitis occur;
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In case. when the infection spreads to the bloodstream - germs can form a purulent focus in internal organs (for example, a kidney infection in the case of primary localization of an inflamed hair follicle on the labia).
Especially, boils are dangerous on the face. Complications of purulent infection on the head can seriously injure soft tissues, that can cause rough cosmetic disturbances..
Diagnostics
If a boil is suspected, treatment is planned in the clinic based on several important parameters:
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Localization
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Depth of the boil
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Size of the inflammation area (also taken in concern, to estimate the price of treatment);
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stage of inflammation;
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Presence or absence of complications.
For the most informative diagnosis, Universum clinic uses:
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thorough medical examination;
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clinical and biochemical blood tests;
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coagulogram;
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Ultrasound of soft tissues in the area of the abscess;
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Microscopy of abscess`s discharge and check the sensitivity to antibiotics.
Our specialists carefully analyze the collected data and create an individual treatment plan for the patient.
How the boils are treated
On the initial stage (of infiltration) boils can be treated by specific topical treatment.
But on the stage, when the abscess is already formed - the only option of treatment is surgery.
Under the local anesthesia, Surgeon performs an incision in the center of the inflammation to enlarge the outflow. Then, surgeon clean and rinse the cavity of the abscess. In some cases, surgeon can but an draining gauze or tube inside the cavity of abscess.
Treatment of furunculosis (multiple boils)
There are situations when boils appear in different parts of the body. Moreover, different abscesses are at different stages of development.
Such a disease is called furunculosis, for its treatment Universum clinic uses a comprehensive approach. Advanced diagnosis, consultation of an immunologist, endocrinologist are required.
The cause of furunculosis must be found and eliminated, otherwise, after surgical removal of one abscess, new ones will appear on the body. Furunculosis cannot be ignored: this leads to relapses and negative results in future.
Benefits of boils treatment at Universum clinic
Specialists of our clinic implement an individual approach to each patient in practice. We recommend contacting us if even a single focus of inflammation appears on the skin of an adult or child. We guarantee:
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thorough diagnostics using modern techniques;
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the treatment plan is drawn up based on the analysis of all diagnostic data;
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treatment is carried out in accordance with current international protocols, starting from surgical treatment of an abscess, ending with the rational use of antibiotics;
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each patient receives individual recommendations for the prevention of complications and the appearance of new abscesses.
Sources
- Lin HS et al. Interventions for bacterial folliculitis and boils (furuncles and carbuncles). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Feb 26;2(2):CD013099. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013099.pub2. PMID: 33634465; PMCID: PMC8130991.
- Atanaskova N, Tomecki KJ. Innovative management of recurrent furunculosis. Dermatol Clin. 2010 Jul;28(3):479-87. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2010.03.013. PMID: 20510758.
- Akram MU et al. Management of a giant carbuncle on the posterior trunk with excision and grafting. J Pak Med Assoc. 2021 Nov;71(11):2665-2668. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.011651. PMID: 34783757.
- Ibler KS, Kromann CB. Recurrent furunculosis - challenges and management: a review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014 Feb 18;7:59-64. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S35302. PMID: 24591845; PMCID: PMC3934592.
- Bakshi SS. Image Diagnosis: Nasal Furunculosis-A Dangerous Nose Infection. Perm J. 2018;22:17-076. doi: 10.7812/TPP/17-076. PMID: 29236652; PMCID: PMC5737918.
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try to squeeze out swelling;
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peel off the skin above the abscess;
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use lotions and remedies of alternative medicine without consulting a doctor;
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warm up areas of inflammation;
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postpone the consultation of the surgeon in case of severe pain, increase in case of enlarged nodes, temperature.
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a painful cone-shaped inflamed infiltrate appears on the part of the body where there is hair, even small (fluff);
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the diameter of the focus of inflammation is from 0.5 to 2.5 cm;
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within 3-4 days, the pain increases, the skin over the focus becomes thinner, becomes red;
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inside the swelling, you can see a dense purulent-necrotic core;
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after opening the abscess, pus and a whitish dense rod come out of the hole;
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a wound remains, which will take several days to heal.
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within 7–10 days, symptoms increase, swelling, redness, and pain increase;
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by 10–14 days, the abscess opens, the rod comes out and leaves behind a hole with its diameter;
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then the wound heals, often with the formation of a rounded scar;
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in case of an unfavorable course, the pus melts the hair bulb and a phlegmone, soft tissue abscess is formed;
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medical assistance is required if the process is located on the face, in the nose or ear, in the area of the upper lip.
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In case of a favorable course, without medical intervention, 7–10 days pass from the appearance of a cone-shaped infiltrate to the exit of the rod;
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the wound should heal by 14-16 days after the first symptoms appear;
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abscess, which has an unfavorable course, lasts 14 days or more;
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if a person goes to the clinic, the healing time is shortened till 3-4 days, the risk of developing complications is excluded.