Boils and Carbuncles! Could you of had one????

What are Boils and Carbuncles? Boils and Carbuncles are painful, pus-filled bumps that form under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles. Boils usually start as red tender lumps. A Carbuncle is a cluster of boils that form a connected area of infection under the skin.

Who can get boils and carbuncles? A boil or carbuncle can occur in anyone. They are uncommon in children and the majority of people who get them are teenagers and young adults. However, you have a higher risk of developing a boil or carbuncle if you have eczema, scabies, if you are obese, have a poor immune system, an illness making you frail or unwell, or if you are a carrier of staphylococcal bacteria.

As you can see on the right is a carbuncle (cluster of boils that are puss-filled, and on the left is a boil alone. Boil Carbuncle

Where can you find boils and carbuncles?? Carbuncles are normally found around the neck and shoulder region. Boils can be found on the face, scalp, neck, armpits, lower back, thigh, groin, or buttocks. Boils on the neck and buttocks

What are the signs and symptoms of boils and carbuncles?? Symptoms for boils and carbuncles include: Redness Swelling (lump) Tenderness to touch or severe pain A lump filled with white or yellowish pus forming a head or tip. The symptoms of a carbuncle are the same but more severe than a boil.

Home treatment may include… Put warm, moist compresses on the boil or carbuncle for 1o to 15 minutes for at least 3 times a day. Clean the sore with antiseptic soap and protect it with a loose gauze. For pain relief you can take tylenol, or ibuprophen. By doing these steps it will help reduce the risk of spreading infection.

When to contact your physician… You should contact your physician if : -A boil does not drain and heal with treatment at home. -If the boil lasts for longer than 1 week. -If the boil becomes very painful.

This is an image of a boil/carbuncle gone bad…

Works Cited www.mayoclinic.com www.drugs.com www.fromyourdoctor.com www.boilstreatment.com www.answers.ask.com www.patient.co.uk www.anmc.org www.mindxpansion.com www.nativeremedies.com www.wikipedia.org

By: Abigail Smith Anatomy &Physiology 4th Block September, 25 2011