Furuncles Definition

A boil (furuncle) is a bacterial infection that triggers inflammation in the hair follicle (the hole where hair grows). At first, the skin in the infected area becomes red and a lump appears. After four to seven days, the lump starts to fill with pus and is painful.

Boils usually appear on areas of the skin that have hair, sweat a lot, and rub together –such as the neck, face, armpits, buttocks, and thighs. However, do not rule out boils appearing on the surface.

Furuncles Symptom

Boils start as small lumps that are hard, red, and painful. A few days later, the lump softened and then enlarged, and the pain increased. Soon, a pocket of pus will form at the top of the lump.

Boils or furuncles rarely require medical attention because they heal on their own. However, if the condition gets worse, you need to see a doctor. Symptoms of boils are as follows:

• Fever
• The lump continues to grow and the symptoms of the boil are painful
• Numbering more than one fruit in the same area, known as coir ulcers
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Boils never dry
• Have problems with the immune system, or are on medications that impair the immune system and cause muteness

Furuncles Reason

The most common cause of boils is infection with the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on the skin, nose, and throat. The skin is the outermost defense of the body from foreign objects such as bacteria, dirt, or germs that cause infection even without symptoms. Injuries to the skin or insect bites become a gateway for bacteria to enter and symptoms of infection are only seen when germs enter the hair follicles.

Some boils can also be caused by infection from ingrown hair follicles which will cause skin infections and disorders of the body’s immune system. If this condition occurs, then the body will respond to the infection by the appearance of pus (pus).

Boils can happen to everyone. Usually occurs in adolescents because of the high amount of activity and sweat production and exposure to bacteria from the environment where the activity is. In addition, there are several factors that can increase your risk of developing boils, one of which is people with a weak immune system. Here are some other causes that make you susceptible to boils, namely:

• Make direct contact with sufferers, for example because they live in the same house
• Not maintaining cleanliness, both personal and environmental hygiene
• Have a weak immune system, for example due to suffering from HIV, undergoing chemotherapy, or suffering from diabetes
• Does not meet the body’s nutritional needs properly or suffers from obesity
• Exposure to dangerous chemical compounds that can cause irritation to the skin
• Experiencing skin problems, such as skin breakouts and eczema

Furuncles Diagnosis

Furuncles generally heal on their own without medical treatment. However, you should immediately see a doctor if you have the following boils:

• Appears on the face, nose or spine. This can lead to complications
• Grows to a diameter of more than 5 cm
• Does not heal within 14 days

You are also advised to consult a doctor if coir boils appear, or feel additional symptoms of boils such as fever.

Doctors usually diagnose boils just by looking at the patient’s skin condition.

If the infection recurs or is not resolved with the treatment previously given, the doctor will suggest a supporting examination in the form of a blood test in the laboratory.

This examination is carried out to determine the right antibiotic to fight the bacteria that cause boils.

Furuncles Treatment

Most cases of boils heal on their own and can be treated independently at home. However, several other cases require treatment from a doctor.

1. Self Care

One way to speed up the healing process is to compress the boil with a cloth dipped in warm water. Do a warm compress for 10 minutes, three to four times each day.

Hot temperatures will increase blood circulation around the boil. This will allow more white blood cells to be sent by the immune system to help with healing.

When the boil bursts, cover it with sterile gauze to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas. Afterward, make sure you wash your hands with warm water and soap. This will help keep the bacteria from spreading to other areas of the body or even to other individuals.

If the pain you feel is unbearable, you can take pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

2. Dry Boils

If the size of the boil is rather large and feels soft, consult a doctor. The characteristics of these ulcers usually will not break on their own and cannot be treated with antibiotics.

The doctor may remove the pus by doing a small operation. Before the procedure is carried out, the area of ​​the boil will be given local anesthesia to make it immune. Then, the top of the boil will be pierced with a needle or scalpel that has been sterilized first.

The process aims to make the pus come out of the boil until it’s complete. The pain will subside and the healing process will begin. But never pop a boil yourself, as doing so will only allow the infection to spread to other areas.

3. Antibiotics

Doctors will usually give boils such as antibiotics, but if the conditions are like this:

• Coir ulcers occur
• There is a fever
• Secondary infection occurs, such as cellulitis
• The location of the boil is on the face because it is more prone to infection
• You feel pain and discomfort

Medicines for boils such as antibiotics that are usually given by doctors are penicillin-based antibiotics called flucloxacillin. If you are allergic to penicillin, you can take erythromycin and clarithromycin as an alternative.

It should be noted that antibiotics must be consumed even when the ulcer has healed. This is useful so that the healing is complete and the infection does not recur.

4. Treatment of boils and boils that appear repeatedly

Boils and boils that recur frequently require further treatment. Most people with recurrent boils get them because they are carriers of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

If so, certain treatments of boils must be done so that the bacteria can be completely eradicated.

Treatment depends on the location of the Staphylococcus bacteria in your body. Bacteria that are on the surface of the skin can be overcome by using antibacterial soap. If bacteria are found in the nose, then you need to use an antiseptic cream for 10 days.

Furuncles Complications

The following are complications of ulcers that can occur:

1. Scars

Large boils or carbuncles sometimes leave scars. These scars won’t go away completely, but they will fade over time and be less noticeable than they were before.

If you are worried that scars will interfere with your appearance, there are several types of treatments that can be done, for example:

• Corticosteroid injections which will help shrink the scar.
• Plastic surgery.

As an alternative, you can use cosmetics to disguise existing scars.

2. Spreading Infection

The bacteria in boils or boils can sometimes spread to other parts of the body and trigger a secondary infection. Cellulitis is the most common secondary infection that is often associated with boils and boils.

Other secondary infections that may arise are:

• Impetigo – a contagious skin infection that can cause sores and blisters.
• Septic arthritis – joint infection.
• Osteomyelitis – an infection that forms inside the bone.
• Endocarditis – infection of the inner lining of the heart.
• Blood poisoning – blood infection.
• Brain abscess – pus that forms inside the brain.
• Some of the above infections need to be treated with injections of antibiotics. For cases of blood poisoning and brain abscess, you must be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

3. Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis

This is a rare complication of boils that can be life-threatening to the sufferer. It started when an infection triggered a blood clot in the space behind the eye bag. The blood clot will then put pressure on the brain which can result in:

• Headache.
• Swollen eyes.
• Pain in the eyes.

If not immediately given antibiotic treatment, cavernous sinus thrombosis can be fatal.

Furuncles Prevention

Boils can’t always be prevented, but taking these simple steps can lower your risk:

• Cleanse the skin regularly with antibacterial soap.
• Always clean cuts, open wounds, or insect bites.
• Keep cuts, open wounds, and insect bites clean by using sterile bandages until they heal.

Live a healthy lifestyle by consuming nutritious food and exercising regularly. This will boost the immune system which will reduce the risk of skin infections.

How to Prevent Boils from Spreading

When you have a boil, it is very important to keep the infection from spreading to other parts of your body as well as other people. You can do this by:

• Wash your hands with antibacterial soap every time you touch the boil.
• Washes clothes, sheets and towels at high temperatures.
• Use different towels for the face and body areas.
• Use sterile gauze to cover the wound until it is completely healed.
• Routinely replace the sterile gauze covering the boil.
• Pay attention to the handling of sterile gauze waste. It must be put in a plastic bag and sealed before being thrown into the trash.
• Avoid saunas, gyms, and swimming pools until your skin is healthy again.