| Furunculosis |
| A boil or furuncle is infection of hair follicle. It is almost always caused by infection by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by an accumulation of pus and dead tissue. |
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| Boil is a pus filled lump around hair follicle and is tender and very painful. They can be very small or may be very large of golf ball size. Yellowish point is seen at the centre of the lump when it is about to discharge of pus. A recurring boil is called chronic furunculosis. A carbuncle occurs when a group of hair follicles next to each other become infected. It is like multiple boils. |
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| If you develop recurring boils, your may have to be investigated to look for an underlying cause. For example, to check if you have a poor immune system or are you a Diabetic? Diabetics are prone to get a Carbuncle. |
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| Most of the furunculosis are mild infections and resolve easily. At times the infection may spread through blood stream and may cause serious problems. Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organs may occur.Boils should not be preferably squeezed especially those on the face. If large, incision and drainage of pus may have to be done especially in case of a Carbuncle. Antibiotics have to be given. |
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