What antibiotic is used to treat boils. What types of antibiotics are prescribed for boils. How to take antibiotics for boils properly. Additional treatments for boils.

Understanding Boils and Bacterial Skin Infections

Boils are a form of bacterial skin infection that presents as inflamed, tender, pus-filled sores. Most boils drain and heal on their own shortly after appearing. However, large or severe boils may require medical attention and antibiotic treatment.

Boils are typically caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, also known as staph. This type of bacteria normally lives on the skin’s surface, but can cause infection when it enters the body or overgrows. As the boil fills with pus, a mixture of dead skin, immune cells, and bacteria, the pressure inside builds until the boil eventually bursts open, allowing the contents to drain out.

Boils can develop anywhere on the body, though they tend to appear in areas with hair, sweat glands, and friction. While minor or small boils often resolve with good hygiene and at-home care, larger or more complex boils may need medical treatment, including draining and antibiotic medication.

Antibiotic Treatments for Boils

Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying bacterial infection causing a boil. The specific antibiotic medication recommended will depend on factors such as the person’s age, other medical conditions, and any other medications they are taking.

Some common oral antibiotics used to treat boils include:

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag)
• Ampicillin
• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Clindamycin (Cleocin, Benzaclin, Veltin)
• Doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin)
• Erythromycin (Erygel, Eryped)
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)
• Tetracycline

Topical antibiotics, such as mupirocin (Centany), may also be prescribed for boils. In some cases, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary for severe or recurrent boils.

Importance of Completing Antibiotic Treatment

When prescribed antibiotics for a boil, it is crucial to take the medication exactly as directed and finish the full course of treatment. Stopping the antibiotics too soon can allow the remaining bacteria to survive and potentially become resistant to that antibiotic, making the infection more difficult to treat in the future.

If the antibiotic is effectively treating the boil, the person should start to feel better. However, they should not stop taking the medication until the full course is completed, even if the boil appears to have healed. Continuing the antibiotics as prescribed helps ensure the infection is fully resolved.

General Tips for Taking Antibiotics

In addition to completing the full course of antibiotics, there are a few other general tips to keep in mind when taking medication for a boil:

• Take the antibiotics at the same time(s) each day, as directed.
• Avoid missing doses, as this can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
• If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose.
• Discuss any side effects with the doctor and do not stop the medication without medical advice.

Additional Treatments for Boils

While antibiotics can help treat the underlying bacterial infection, additional treatments may also be necessary for boils, such as:

• Warm compresses to help bring the boil to a head and encourage draining
• Lancing or incision and drainage by a healthcare provider to manually remove the pus and core of the boil
• Over-the-counter pain relievers to manage pain and inflammation
• Keeping the area clean and covered to prevent the spread of infection

It is important not to try to drain or pop a boil at home, as this can lead to the spread of the infection. Boils should only be drained by a medical professional.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Most small or minor boils can be managed at home, but it is important to seek medical care if:

• The boil is large, painful, or located on the face or neck
• The boil is not improving with home treatment after a few days
• The person has a weakened immune system or other underlying medical conditions
• The person experiences signs of a worsening infection, such as fever, chills, or increased pain and swelling

A doctor can examine the boil, determine if antibiotic treatment or other interventions are needed, and provide guidance on properly caring for the area to promote healing.

Antibiotics for Boils: Prescribed & Over-the-Counter

Most boils are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to treat this kind of infection. Over-the-counter boil medications provide pain relief, not treatment.

When bacteria infect and inflame a hair follicle, a painful pus-filled bump can form under your skin. This infected bump is a boil, also known as a furuncle, and it will grow larger and more painful until it ruptures and drains.

Most boils can be treated with a minor surgical procedure that includes opening and draining it. Sometimes you may need antibiotics to deal with the underlying infection.

The majority of boils are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, also known as staph. To fight this infection, your doctor might prescribe oral, topical, or intravenous antibiotics, such as:

• amikacin
• amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag)
• ampicillin
• cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol)
• cefotaxime
• ceftriaxone
• cephalexin (Keflex)
• clindamycin (Cleocin, Benzaclin, Veltin)
• doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin)
• erythromycin (Erygel, Eryped)
• gentamicin (Gentak)
• levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• mupirocin (Centany)
• sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)
• tetracycline

The antibiotic your doctor will prescribe is based on your specific situation.

Not every antibiotic is going to work for you because some varieties — there are over 30 types — of staph have become resistant to certain antibiotics.

Before prescribing antibiotics, your doctor might suggest sending a sample of pus from the boil to a lab to determine the antibiotic that would be most effective.

Most over-the-counter (OTC) boil medications are focused on pain relief. There are no OTC antibiotics appropriate for treating a boil.

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, using OTC antibiotic ointment — such as Neosporin, bacitracin, or Polysporin — on your boil is ineffective because the medication won’t penetrate the infected skin.

If the antibiotic is doing its job, you’ll start to feel better. Once you feel better, you might consider stopping the medication. You shouldn’t stop or you might get sick again.

Whenever you’re prescribed an oral antibiotic, take it as directed and finish all of the medication. If you stop taking it too soon, the antibiotic might not have killed all the bacteria.

If that happens, not only could you get sick again, but the remaining bacteria might become resistant to that antibiotic. Also, have your doctor review signs and symptoms that your infection is getting worse.

A boil can be painful and unsightly. It might require antibiotics as well as minor surgery to open and drain. If you have a boil or group of boils, consult your doctor or dermatologist to determine the steps that should be taken to properly heal the area.

One universal rule you’ll hear from all medical professionals is to not pick at, squeeze, or use a sharp object to release the fluid and pus in a boil. Among other complications, this can spread the infection.

Which ones and how to take

Boils are a form of bacterial skin infection that presents as inflamed, tender, pus filled sores. Most boils drain and heal shortly after appearing. However, large or severe boils may require medical attention and antibiotic treatment.

Minor or small boils often resolve on their own with good hygiene and at-home treatments, such as warm compresses. However, large or complex boils, boils on the face or neck, and chronic boils often require a doctor to drain them. Some people may also need to take antibiotics.

This article discusses what a boil is, which antibiotics may be effective, why it is important to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, general tips for taking antibiotics, and additional treatments for boils.

Share on PinterestA doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment for large boils.

Boils are painful, swollen, tender sores that develop under the skin due to a bacterial infection.

Bacteria cause most boils, with Staphylococcus aureus (staph) being the type that most commonly lead to boils. Staph bacteria normally live on the surface of the skin and only tend to cause infection when they enter the body or overgrow.

Boils usually grow as they fill with pus, which is a mixture of dead skin and immune and bacterial cells. Once the boil reaches a size where the pressure inside becomes too high, it will typically burst open, allowing the pus and other contents to drain out.

Boils can be any size and appear anywhere on the body, though they tend to develop in body regions that have hair, sweat a lot, and are subject to friction.

A wide range of oral and topical antibiotics may help treat boils. A doctor will determine which medication is most likely to be effective for someone based on several factors, such as:

• the person’s age
• additional medical conditions
• other medications that a person is using or has already tried
• any allergies
• the severity of the infection
• the person’s immune status
• the risk factors associated with the medication

Staph bacteria are the cause of many boils. Several types of staph bacteria have adapted to resist certain types of antibiotics, particularly methicillin-based medications.

Several studies have concluded that taking nonmethicillin-based systemic (oral or intravenous) antibiotics after a doctor has incised and drained the boils increases the likelihood of full recovery. However, other studies suggest that systemic antibiotics show no benefit after the incision and drainage of a boil.

Some of the antibiotics that doctors most commonly use to treat boils include:

• ceftaroline
• daptomycin
• oxacillin
• vancomycin
• telavancin
• tigecycline

In rare cases, a doctor may take a sample of pus from a boil and send it to a laboratory. There, technicians will analyze it to determine which specific type of bacteria is causing the boil. The doctor may require this information if:

• standard treatment is not working
• sepsis (a blood infection) is a possibility
• someone is allergic to several types of antibiotics or does not respond well to them
• there is a risk that the bacteria are antibiotic resistant
• there are multiple boils, or they are recurring
• the person has a weakened immune system

Knowing which specific type of bacteria is causing boil infections usually makes treatment more effective.

It is extremely important to take antibiotic medications exactly as per the prescription and to complete the whole course, even if the symptoms go away.

Not taking the whole course of prescribed antibiotics increases the risk that the infection will return. It also raises the risk that the bacteria causing the infection will become antibiotic resistant. People with a staph infection should take particular care, as several staph species are already antibiotic resistant.

Some research suggests that shorter courses of antibiotics may be as effective as longer courses. However, the doctor prescribing the antibiotics will prescribe as much as they feel appropriate. So, it is important to follow their advice.

Adhering to the doctor’s prescription for antibiotics is extremely important. People can also maximize the safety and effectiveness of antibiotics by doing the following:

• avoiding sharing medications with others
• avoiding saving medications for later use
• asking a pharmacist for advice on how to discard medicines safely, if necessary
• refraining from taking medications that a doctor prescribed to someone else
• refraining from breaking up or crushing medications
• taking medications with water only
• avoiding consuming fruit juices, dairy, or alcohol within 3 hours of taking antibiotics
• avoiding consuming dietary supplements with calcium
• spreading antibiotic doses out evenly throughout the day as much as possible
• asking a doctor whether it is best to take doses with food or at the same time every day
• talking to a doctor or pharmacist if taking other medications, as some may negatively interact with antibiotics, especially blood thinners, antacids, and hormone medications

In many cases, people do not need to take antibiotics for boils. Instead, several at-home remedies may help accelerate the healing process or improve the chances of recovery.

Additional treatment options for boils include:

• Using a warm compress: Make a warm compress by heating a wet, clean cloth or facecloth and gently applying it to the boil for 10–20 minutes, three to four times a day.
• Covering boils: Cover boils with sterile gauze or a bandage, especially once they have burst.
• Washing the hands and body frequently: Wash the hands thoroughly with hot water and soap before and after touching boils. Wash the body daily with a gentle antiseptic or antibacterial cleanser.
• Avoiding forcing boils open: Never try to squeeze, pierce, or forcibly open a boil, as this can spread the infection and cause it to become more severe.
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers: Take medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce or manage pain associated with boils.

Click here to learn more about home remedies for boils.

In certain cases, a doctor may also make a small cut to drain boils in their office. They may do this for boils that:

• are severe
• are on the face or neck
• recur
• do not resolve on their own
• have merged with other boils, forming a carbuncle

In some cases, a doctor may also prescribe antiseptic creams or ointments that a person can apply to the inside of their nose to help limit staph infection. OTC topical antibacterials, such as Neosporin, will not help treat boils as they do not penetrate the skin enough.

A doctor may prescribe one of several types of antibiotics that can help treat boils. Typically, the most common and effective antibiotics are not methicillin-based, but a doctor will decide which antibiotics or other treatments are most appropriate.

Some people may be able to manage boils with at-home remedies, and some boils may resolve on their own. In other cases, people may need medical help and require a doctor to drain a boil and prescribe antibiotics.

It is best to talk to a doctor about severe boils, clusters of boils, and boils with accompanying symptoms. People should also talk to a doctor if boils do not fully heal after completing a whole course of antibiotics.

Boil – antibiotic treatment, ointment, how it looks on the face, photo

From this article you will learn:

• what a boil looks like: photo,
• how to treat a boil correctly (without complications),
• pulling ointment from boils.

Article written by a doctor with experience in maxillofacial surgery.

Furuncle is an acute purulent inflammation that develops in the hair follicle and is accompanied by necrosis of surrounding tissues. It should be noted that the most common localization of this disease is a boil on the face, but it can also occur on the scalp, on the chest, back, buttocks, legs, in the groin and armpits.

If several furuncles closely spaced to each other are formed at the same time, i.e. they seem to merge with each other, then such a lesion is already called the term “carbuncle”. Pathogenic bacteria that usually cause the development of boils and carbuncles include Staphylococcus aureus, group A streptococci, enterococci, propionibacteria. All these microorganisms differ in that they secrete very powerful proteolytic enzymes, which lead to tissue necrosis (the formation of a necrotic core in a boil).

What a boil looks like: photo

Causes of the formation of boils –

The pathogenic bacteria listed above enter the hair follicle through pores in the skin (along the hair shaft), as well as through skin areas with damaged epidermis. The latter can be abrasions, cuts when shaving. It should be noted that most of the microorganisms that cause the formation of boils are always present on our skin, but rarely lead to the development of inflammatory diseases. The fact is that the secret of the sebaceous glands secreted to the surface of the skin has a normal acidic pH, inhibiting the development of bacteria.

However, in some cases, pathogenic bacteria begin to multiply actively, causing the development of inflammation. This occurs under the following conditions –

• with poor hygiene of the skin,
• with an alkaline pH of the secretion of the sebaceous glands and sweat,
• scratches and abrasions on the skin,
• in the presence of dermatological diseases such as eczema and psoriasis (in this case skin becomes particularly vulnerable to staph infection),
• in patients with acne,
• against the background of diabetes mellitus, obesity,
• after severe acute respiratory viral infections and influenza,
• with sudden hypothermia/overheating,
• beriberi, intoxication, weakened immunity.

All of the above factors can contribute to the onset of the development of purulent-non-critical inflammation at the mouth of the hair follicle, while the inflammation will gradually spread to the sebaceous glands, the papillary dermis. In the center of the focus of inflammation, tissue necrosis will develop, which will lead to the formation of the so-called “necrotic rod”. Over time, the necrotic rod breaks through the epidermis and is torn out, and the wound is filled with granulation tissue with the formation of a scar.

In parallel with the formation of a necrotic rod, abscessing of the boil occurs, i.e. the formation of a cavity filled with pus. Outwardly, it is very similar to the formation of an abscess. By the way, despite the fact that the boil and abscess are outwardly very similar, the former are much more dangerous. This is due to the fact that a continuous demarcation shaft does not form around the boils (as with abscesses), and therefore the infection easily penetrates into the surrounding tissues. That is why inflammation in boils often spreads to the superficial veins of the face – with the development of phlebitis or thrombophlebitis.

Furuncle: symptoms

Furuncles on the face are most often located in the region of the upper or lower lip. Less commonly, a furuncle may occur in the ear or on the nose, or on the skin of the forehead. Furuncles are most severe, which are formed in the region of the upper lip, the corners of the mouth, as well as in the region of the nose and infraorbital regions (this corresponds to the zone of the nasolabial triangle). These areas are rich in blood supply, and therefore thrombophlebitis of the facial veins develops much more often, which can lead to thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, purulent meningitis and sepsis.

If you have developed a furuncle, treatment at the very first stage of inflammation can be carried out at home. At later stages, only surgical treatment is indicated. Next, we will analyze the clinical stages of the development of a boil and the symptoms corresponding to them. So, if you have a boil, the symptoms of inflammation and complaints of patients depend on the stage of the inflammatory process, of which there are three.

Furuncle formation stages and symptoms –

1) At the beginning of the formation of a boil, it resembles a swelling just rising above the surface of the skin (soft tissue infiltrate). At that stage of development, there is still no pus and a necrotic core in it, but the tissues are very dense to the touch, tense, painful when touched. The skin over the infiltrate has an intense red color (Fig. 8). The general condition of patients at this stage is usually satisfactory, and the body temperature usually does not exceed 37.5 degrees.

2) In the second stage, which usually occurs after 3-5 days, symptoms of pus formation inside the boil already appear, which leads to an increase in its size. In addition to an increase in the size of the boil, patients note increased pain, which can become throbbing, as well as an increase in body temperature up to 38.0 degrees. In parallel with the formation of pus, a necrotic rod is formed, and in this case, white or black dots can be distinguished on the surface of the boil (Fig. 9-10).

Gradually, the pressure of pus on the walls of the boil increases, and this can lead to the fact that it can spontaneously open. In this case, pus will begin to stand out on the surface of the skin, and the necrotic rod will begin to gradually emerge from the depths of the tissues to the outside (Fig. 11).

3) At the third stage tissue regeneration begins. This stage begins after the emptying of pus from the cavity of the boil and the rejection of the necrotic rod. Tissue swelling and inflammation at this stage gradually decreases, and tissue healing occurs with the formation of a small scar. In the next section, we will describe in detail how to treat a boil at different stages of the inflammatory process.

How to treat a boil: ointment and antibiotics

If you have a boil, treatment at home can be effective only at the very early stage of the disease, when there is only inflammatory swelling of the tissues, but without the formation of a cavity with pus. Only in this case can conservative treatment be carried out, which will prevent suppuration. How to cure a boil at this stage – you need to use a 2% alcohol solution of salicylic acid to treat the skin, and Ichthyol ointment for antiseptic dressings.

Also at this stage, blockades with weak anesthetic solutions (like infiltration anesthesia) are very effective, but for this you need to consult a dentist or maxillofacial surgeon. Some physical therapy treatments may also be effective. But the treatment of a boil, in which a cavity with pus and / or a necrotic rod has already formed, can only be carried out surgically.

Thus, we summarize … Treatment of a boil at home is possible only if it is small (up to 5 mm) and a cavity with pus or a necrotic rod has not yet formed, while you do not have high fever or concomitant diseases – such as diabetes mellitus, dermatological diseases, weak immunity, etc. In all other cases, the sick person should consult a doctor.

Seek immediate medical attention –

We have listed below a list of cases in which you should see a doctor right away (even if you have not yet developed a cavity with pus), as this will prevent the development of serious complications. So,

• if you have severe throbbing pain,
• if the body temperature is above 37.5 degrees,
• if the boil is localized in the nasolabial triangle (on the upper lip, nose, nasolabial folds, infraorbital areas), as well as in the ear canal ,
• if a boil occurs in an infant or small child,
• when there are signs of infection spreading – the size of the redness around the boil increases, or red stripes appear around it, or if a necrotic core has not formed in 2 weeks, or if another one appears nearby boil,
• if you have diabetes mellitus, oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, endocarditis, obesity, if you are taking prednisolone or its analogues, or if you have reduced immunity (in addition, in all these conditions, treatment of a boil is carried out under mandatory systemic antibiotic therapy).

Heat compresses (not on the face!!!) –

Most small boils (less than 5 mm) can be treated with heat compresses alone, without the need for antibiotic therapy and surgical opening. Thermal compresses allow the fruncle to ripen faster and open on its own. Warm / hot wet compresses, by raising the temperature of the tissues, increase blood circulation in this area, which leads to a faster transition of inflammation from the infiltration stage to the formation of a cavity with pus. Usually they are carried out 3-4 times a day, for 10-20 minutes.

Important!!! Heat compresses should not be done on the face, they can only be used when the boil is localized on the body. In addition, thermal compresses cannot be used even on the body – with carbuncles, hydradenitis, lymphadenitis, festering atheroma or lipoma. Imagine that you suddenly made a mistake in your self-diagnosis, and you actually do not have a boil, but a festering atheroma. You will get serious complications.

Wisniewski ointment dressings can be used as an alternative to conventional wet heat compresses. By the way, surgeons also periodically prescribe thermal compresses if they see that it is too early to open the boil (a cavity with pus and / or a necrotic rod has not formed). This is done to speed up the course of inflammation and to carry out surgical intervention faster, thus reducing the overall duration of the disease (24stoma.ru).

Opening the boil (and draining it) –

At the second stage of inflammation, i.e. if a cavity with pus and / or a necrotic rod has already formed, a surgical opening of the boil is performed. If a boil occurs on the face and neck, this is done by a dental surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon, and a boil on the leg or in the armpit will be opened by a general surgeon. You should not try to treat boils larger than 5 mm without opening them, using only heat compresses, ointments and antibiotics.

The autopsy is performed under local anesthesia. A small incision is made, after which the necrotic rod and the remnants of pus are removed from the wound. The abscess cavity is carefully scraped and washed with antiseptics, after which a glove rubber drain is inserted into the wound. In the first days after opening, exudate will be released from the wound. The wound should be washed daily with antiseptics, hydrophilic ointments with osmotic activity can be applied to the wound. Such ointments will improve the outflow of pus and speed up the cleansing of the wound.

Important : never try to open a boil yourself by squeezing it, piercing it or trying to cut it. This can increase not only the risk of scarring, but also the penetration of infection into the tissues. Such self-medication, for example, on the face, can lead to thrombophlebitis of the superficial facial veins, sepsis, and even death.

How to draw pus out of a boil –
you can use Levomekol ointment after surgical opening of the boil. Please note that dressings with it can only be done after the boil has opened on its own or the surgeon has opened it. Levomekol ointment has an antiseptic and necrolytic effect, which will allow the wound to clear itself of pus and necrotic tissues faster.

Treatment of boils with antibiotics –

Antibiotics for boils are not needed in all situations. Antibiotic therapy may be recommended if the boil is large, located in a potentially dangerous zone of the nasolabial triangle or infraorbital region, or in sensitive places – in the groin, armpits or in the ear canal. Treatment of a boil with antibiotics is also mandatory in case of acute intoxication of the body (at high temperature), concomitant diseases, and a high risk of developing thrombophlebitis of the facial veins.

Examples of first choice antibiotics –

However, the use of antibiotics for boils is often ineffective. This is due to the presence in the focus of inflammation, usually several pathogens at once, especially staphylococci and enterococci, which often have resistance to many antibiotics at once. Therefore, the drugs of choice are usually “amoxicillin + clavulanic acid” (Amoxiclav or Augmentin), as well as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. In the presence of diabetes mellitus and immunodeficiency states, in which the risk of complications is high, Imipenem or Meropinem are prescribed.

• If there is no fever and the size of the boil is less than 5 mm –
  in this case, no antibiotics are required, unless of course you have concomitant diseases, which we described above.

• If the temperature is low and the size of the boil is more than 5 mm –
  , a course of oral antibiotic is prescribed for 5 to 7 days. These can be: trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, cleocin, vibromycin, minocycline and others.

• In patients with high fever or multiple abscesses –
  course of antibiotic therapy in this case is not less than 10 days. Antibiotics such as rifampicin, rifadin, rimactan and others are used.

Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to quickly become resistant to the strongest antimicrobials, making treatment difficult. Therefore, you should never self-prescribe antibiotics. In the presence of MRSA (methicellin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus), an antibiotic of the vancomycin type is prescribed, and in case of multidrug-resistant strains of staphylococcus and vancomycin-resistant strains of enterococcus, linezolid is prescribed.

Important: in patients with furuncle localization in the nasolabial triangle, infraorbital region, with extensive lesions – in addition to antibiotics, anticoagulants must be prescribed to prevent thrombosis of the facial veins.

Complications of boils –

Most boils heal without medical intervention or complications. However, in rare cases, a boil can lead to serious consequences, such as sepsis. This complication can lead to severe infections of the heart, lungs, kidneys, bones, joints, brain, and even death. Also, a boil can lead to scarring after healing. Misuse of antibiotics can cause MRSA (methicellin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus).

In the latter case, treatment can be very difficult and lengthy, and the risk of spreading the infection throughout the body is greatly increased. With ineffective treatment, prolonged self-treatment, a large amount of pus can accumulate inside the boil, which can lead to the development of an abscessing boil. If this occurs on the face, then thrombophlebitis of the facial vein or angular nasal vein may develop, which can even threaten the life of the patient. We hope that our article: Furuncle treatment, drugs – turned out to be useful to you!

References :

1. Dental education of the author of the article,
2. Based on personal experience in maxillofacial surgery and surgical dentistry,
3. National Library of Medicine (USA),
-facial surgery” (Timofeev A.A.),
5. “Surgical dentistry and maxillofacial surgery” (Kulakov A.).

Furunculosis (furuncle)

Causes of furunculosis

The main cause of this disease is the activation of staphylococcal microflora, which can be caused by various circumstances. It provokes a purulent-inflammatory process.

The development of furunculosis is usually associated with the presence of immunodeficiency. Most often it is provoked by:

• diabetes mellitus;
• foci of chronic infection;
• chronic intoxications;
• hypovitaminosis;
• violation of the diet;
• metabolic disorders.

The reason for the introduction of staphylococcus into the hair follicle may be traumatization of the skin, its hypothermia or contamination. Often several factors influence the development of the disease. Skin microtrauma in men caused by careless shaving is especially often the cause of boils.

Furunculosis can be divided into acute and chronic. In acute furunculosis, rashes on the body occur almost simultaneously or within a short time, accompanied by malaise, headache, and fever. With a chronic variety of the disease, such outbreaks occur with some frequency over many months and even years.

Symptoms and manifestations of furunculosis

The disease begins with the formation of a purulent-inflammatory infiltrate around the hair follicle. After a few days, the inflammatory process covers the entire hair follicle, after which the inflammation affects the adjacent sebaceous gland and connective tissue. Often, before the appearance of boils, a person experiences itching in the place where inflammation will subsequently develop.

Outwardly, a furuncle is a cone-shaped node that rises above the surface of the skin. At first, it may not be felt in any way and not cause any discomfort, but as the focus of inflammation forms, soreness increases: a person can feel both swelling and pain of a pulsating or twitching nature. With furunculosis of the face and neck around the infiltrate, as a rule, extensive edema occurs.

On the third or fourth day, a fluctuation zone is formed in the center of the infiltrate. If you press it, you can feel the movement of purulent masses in the cavity of the follicle. At the same time, a small focus of purulent fusion of tissues appears around the hair, and a fistula begins to form.

This disease does not have a clear localization on a specific area of ​​the body, but it usually affects areas of problematic skin prone to oiliness. Therefore, most often people experience furunculosis under the arm, on the face, forearms, back of the neck, buttocks and thighs.

A single boil in the vast majority of cases does not cause any serious deterioration in the patient’s health. Body temperature remains normal, nothing prevents you from leading a former lifestyle.

If the boil is opened, viscous pus is released, accumulated on the surface of the inflammatory element, after which a small sore is formed, at its bottom you can see a green rod – it is considered one of the most characteristic symptoms of furunculosis. In most cases, it is rejected after about 5 days with a slight admixture of blood and pus.

After the rod is rejected, the inflammation process stops, pain sensations decrease, tissue swelling subsides, and the affected area becomes less sensitive to palpation. The resulting ulcer is filled with granulation tissue, in its place a retracted scar appears, the size and depth of which depend on the size of the area of ​​necrosis in the central part of the boil.

Another development of events is also possible: pus and necrotic masses left after the opening of the boil lead to the development of chronic furunculosis.

Furunculosis of the face can lead to fever, headache, and various manifestations of intoxication. The likelihood of such a development of events is especially high if boils occur in the region of the nasolabial triangle or the external auditory canal. At the same time, the skin of the face acquires a purple color, puffiness develops, when you press the skin, a person will experience pain.

Damage to boils on the face during washing or shaving, as well as attempts to squeeze out boils on your own, can cause venous thrombophlebitis.

Furunculosis is especially dangerous in children. In addition to the thrombophlebitis already mentioned above (which can cause the inflammatory process to penetrate into the cranial cavity, which contributes to the development of meningitis, which can be fatal), it can lead to the development of other dangerous diseases, including:

• lymphangitis – inflammation of the regional lymphatic vessels ;
• lymphadenitis – inflammation of the regional lymph nodes;
• phlegmon – acute inflammation of the surrounding adipose tissue;
• An abscess is a process in which adjacent tissues become inflamed and melt to form cavities containing pus.

If you experience similar symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis with fungal skin lesions, hydradenitis, systemic vasculitis is carried out.

Undesirability of self-treatment

How to cure furunculosis? In order to get rid of boils, you need to contact a dermatologist. Often people resort to self-medication, use an ointment for boils – for example, Vishnevsky’s ointment – but this can lead to unpleasant consequences: both to the further development of the process and to the appearance of phlegmon. The fact is that Vishnevsky’s ointment is used only at the granulation stage, after the resolution of the purulent capsule.

Independent extrusion of boils rods is also undesirable, regardless of whether it is done by hand or using vacuum jars. Squeezing can lead to premature opening of the boil, as a result of which nearby skin areas will be exposed to pathogenic microflora. Often in this case, part of the rod remains inside, which leads to a chronization of the process.

Treatment of furunculosis

In order to cope with the disease, be sure to contact a specialist and follow all his instructions.

During the treatment of furunculosis, the patient will have to limit water procedures or even completely abandon them. The exception is extensive furunculosis: in this case, warm baths with potassium permanganate are recommended, which disinfect the skin. Instead of washing and taking a bath, visiting a bath, washing in the shower, you will need to wipe healthy skin with non-aggressive antiseptic solutions, for example, salicylic alcohol or furacilin solution.

Personal hygiene during the treatment of furunculosis is extremely important – it has already been said above that microtraumas of the skin can lead to the further development of this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently change underwear and bed linen, treat any, even the smallest cuts and scratches, with a solution of brilliant green.

At the stage of maturation of boils, the skin around them must be treated with antiseptics. It is also used to chip the affected area with a solution of novocaine with antibiotics: antibiotics for furunculosis help relieve pain and prevent the purulent process from spreading to healthy tissues. Commonly used substances such as penicillin, ecmonovicillin, bicillin – other antibiotics are much less effective.

To prevent complications such as cellulitis or abscess, experts recommend electrophoresis in combination with antimicrobials.

If the zone of fluctuation has already been outlined, application can be used for treatment: crystalline salicylic sodium is applied to the center of the elements of furunculosis, which is then fixed with a dry bandage. This contributes to the accelerated rejection of the rod.

If an abscess develops as a result of the disease, the boil must be opened under local anesthesia, while the purulent-necrotic masses are removed. The wound after opening is washed with 3% hydrogen peroxide, it will need to be bandaged with a bandage with one of the proteolytic drugs: it can be either Levomikol or synthomycin or erythromycin ointment. Bandages should be changed every other day. After the process enters the granulation stage, Vishnevsky’s liniment or ichthyol-based ointment is applied – this ensures better healing.

At all stages of furunculosis, ultraviolet irradiation and UHF therapy are used.

Antibiotics for furunculosis are also used – in cases of abscesses and in the chronic course of the disease. If general diseases are diagnosed, the patient is exhausted, the immune status is reduced, the specialist may prescribe antibiotics in the form of intramuscular injections.

The body’s resistance to furunculosis can be increased with the help of gamma globulin and ozone therapy, vitamin therapy, autohemotransfusion, general strengthening drugs are also prescribed.

Regardless of the stage of furunculosis, it is necessary to correct comorbidities: to sanitize chronic infectious foci, treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine disorders, and so on.

Diet

During treatment, it is necessary to exclude spicy and fatty foods from the diet, eat more foods rich in vitamins and protein, which promote tissue regeneration.