Boils
and Carbuncles
Boils and carbuncles are a painful,
pus-filled bump that forms under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one
or more of your hair follicles.
Symptoms & causes
Your doctor will likely be
able to diagnose a boil or carbuncle simply by looking at it. A sample of the
pus may be sent to the lab for testing. This may be useful if you have
recurring infections or an infection that hasn't responded to standard
treatment.
Many varieties of the
bacteria that cause boils have become resistant to certain types of
antibiotics. So lab testing can help determine what type of antibiotic would
work best in your situation.
Treatment
You can generally treat
small boils at home by applying warm compresses to relieve pain and promote
natural drainage.
For larger boils and
carbuncles, treatment may include:
Incision and drainage.
Your doctor may drain a large boil or carbuncle by making an incision in it.
Deep infections that can't be completely drained may be packed with sterile
gauze to help soak up and remove additional pus.
Antibiotics.
Sometimes your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help heal severe or
recurrent infections.
Lifestyle and home
remedies
For small boils, these measures
may help the infection heal more quickly and prevent it from spreading:
Warm compresses.
Apply a warm washcloth or compress to the affected area several times a day,
for about 10 minutes each time. This helps the boil rupture and drain more
quickly.
Never squeeze or lance a
boil yourself. This can spread the infection.
Prevent contamination.
Wash your hands thoroughly after treating a boil. Also, launder clothing,
towels or compresses that have touched the infected area, especially if you
have recurrent infections.
Preparing for your
appointment
You're likely to see your
family doctor or primary care provider first, who may then refer you to a
specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist) or infectious diseases.
What you can do
List all your signs and
symptoms and when they first occurred. Record how long the bumps lasted and if
any recurred. Make a list of all medications — including vitamins, herbs and
over-the-counter drugs — that you're taking. Even better, take the original bottles
and a list of the doses and directions.
For boils and carbuncles,
some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
Are tests needed to confirm
the diagnosis?
What is the best course of
action?
Is there a generic
alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
Can I wait to see if the
condition goes away on its own?
What can I do to prevent the
infection from spreading?
What skin care routine do
you recommend while the condition heals?
What to expect from
your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask
you a number of questions, such as:
What did the boil look like
when it first started?
Are your symptoms painful?
Have you had a boil or
carbuncle before?
Are you having fever or
chills
Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA,
LFACHE
Senior Consultant
Senior Management Resources,
LLC
JanJenningsBlog.Blogspot.com
412.913.0636 Cell
724.733.0509 Office
September 5, 2022
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