Boils
A boil (also known as furuncle) is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle, where pus and dead tissue accumulate. Boils can occur anywhere on the skin, but most often on the back, stomach, underarms, shoulders, face, lips, eyes, nose, thighs and buttocks
They manifest as red, pus-filled lumps that are tender, hot and painful. When the boil is ready to drain or discharge pus it has a yellow or white point at the centre
Boils clustered together are called carbuncles. An abscess is also a contained collection of pus, but it can occur anywhere in the body as well as on the skin. However, a boil always originates in a hair follicle
With a severe infection, a person may have many boils and develop fever and swollen lymph nodes
Risk factors for boils include an outbreak of bacteria (usually staphylococci), diabetes mellitus, obesity, malnutrition, and use of immunosuppressive drugs
Boils sometimes have an unpleasant smell because of the bacteria in the pus or discharge
Large boils should be lanced and drained. A warm compresses can help it to drain
DISCLAIMER
Our visitors offer information and opinions from their personal experience.
What you read here is not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment.
Please consult with your doctor, pharmacist, and other health care providers concerning your symptoms and medical rquirements
before following any of the remedies or other suggestions on this site