BOIL : DEFINITION , SITES ,TREATMENT & COMPLICATIONS

This is also called furuncle . It is a hair follicle infection caused by staphylococcus aureus .
It starts with painful indurated swelling with surrounding oedema .After about 1-2 days ,softening occurs in the centre & pustule develops which bursts spontaneously discharging pus .
Furuncle of the external auditory meatus is a very painful condition because of the rich nerve supply of the skin . Pain is also due to dense adherence of skin to the perichondrium .

PRECIPITATING FACTORS : Scratching , diabetes , poor immunity .

                                                               

BOIL

COMMON LOCATIONS : Face & back of the neck , axilla , gluteal region .

TREATMENT OF BOIL :

Incision & drainage with excision of slough . Antibiotic is given .diabetes , if present, is treated .

COMPLICATIONS :

Necrosis of the skin .
Pyaemic abscess & sepicaemia .
Cavernous sinus thrombosis due to boil on the face or stye on the eyelid .