Boil
A boil is a purulent skin disease characterized by inflammation of the hair follicle, which captures nearby soft tissues and sebaceous gland. The abscess is formed from a dense infiltrate, in which a rod is formed in the center, ending in a pustule. After that, the pustule opens and the rod, together with the purulent substance, comes out, then the boil heals and a scar forms in its place.
The content of the article:
Accumulation of liquid
Healing of the boil
Causes of boils
Symptoms of a boil
Diagnosis of a boil
Complications of the boil
Treatment of a boil
Prevention of the appearance of boils
Boil
The diagnosis of a boil includes:
dermatoscopy;
bacterial seeding of the secreted;
blood test;
study of the patient’s immunity status;
identification of other diseases and complications.
The boil is treated locally, depending on the stage of its development. According to the indications, antibiotic treatment, correction of immunity, therapy of complications can be prescribed.
the boil is also called “chirium”. This disease occurs more often in adult men than in women. The risk of getting a boil increases in the autumn or spring period.
Along with staphylococcal impetigo, folliculitis, hydradenitis and sycosis, the boil belongs to dermatological purulent-inflammatory diseases (pyoderma). If staphylococcal impetigo and folliculitis affect only the hair follicle, then the boil involves the surrounding tissues in the purulent process and often complicates the above-mentioned diseases. Also, developing without proper treatment, a boil can complicate diseases caused by streptococci and staphylococci.
Accumulation of liquid
The stage of infiltration (accumulation of fluid) of the boil begins around the mouth of the follicle with the appearance of a bright red nodule, gradually increasing in size (up to 1-3 cm in diameter), compacting and becoming more painful, the process is accompanied by swelling of nearby tissues and a tingling sensation. A boil located near the lips, eyelids or on the cheeks has a more pronounced swelling.
The process of pus formation and tissue necrosis begins at least 3 days from the beginning of its appearance. This stage is characterized by the appearance of a necrotic and purulent rod typical of a boil, which comes to the surface of the skin in the form of a pustule. The body temperature during this period can rise to 38 ° C, pain in the area of the boil occurs sharply. The occurrence of intoxication symptoms is not excluded:
headache;
malaise;
loss of appetite;
weakness.
The ripened boil breaks through, releasing a purulent formation and a necrotic rod through the hole. After the breakthrough of the boil, swelling, soreness, infiltration processes and general symptoms pass and a new stage begins — the healing process.
Healing of the boil
The healing stage of the boil is characterized by the formation of connective tissue in the hole left after its breakthrough. A scar forms on the site of the boil for several days. At first it is very noticeable and has a bluish-red color, and then gradually brightens and becomes almost invisible.
In some cases, the course of the disease may pass more imperceptibly, not accompanied by the appearance of a necrotic rod. If a boil forms in the auricle, then severe ear pain is added to its general symptoms, giving in the jaw and temporal region. Sometimes there may be complaints of a general headache. A boil can worsen hearing by blocking the auditory canal.
Causes of boils
Staphylococcal bacteria are the main causes of boils. After numerous studies conducted by dermatologists, it was proved that staphylococcal bacteria are normally present on the surface of the skin of any person. At the same time, only 10% of the total number of staphylococcal bacteria can provoke the disease. In patients with boils, this ratio is exactly the opposite, that is, the number of pathogenic bacteria is 90%. Due to the fact that the skin is polluted, infected or the activity of the immune system is too sluggish, the microflora of the skin may be disturbed, which will cause a similar disease.
chronic diseases and infectious processes in the body (chronic pyelonephritis, tuberculosis, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, hepatitis, etc.);
metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, endocrine obesity);
long-term treatment with synthetic drugs;
the use of cytostatic agents and other medications aimed at lowering the immune system (in patients with stomach and breast cancer, lymphoma, kidney adenocarcinoma, uterine sarcoma and other oncological diseases) can reduce immunity.
Profuse perspiration and the appearance of small lesions on the skin, scratching due to severe itching in skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, eczema, inguinal epidemiology, scabies, pruritus), cuts, scuffs and scratches are the “entrance gate” for staphylococcal bacteria in the hair sac, by the formation of a boil.
Symptoms of a boil
A boil can appear on the skin almost anywhere. More often it appears where the skin often rubs, sweats or gets dirty. These are mainly armpits, groin areas, buttocks, thighs, lower back, chest, neck, face. The boil goes through 3 stages of development:
accumulation of fluid;
the process of pus formation;
tissue necrosis, tightening.
The whole process lasts a little more than a week.
Diagnosis of a boil
If signs of inflammation of the skin are found, then the patient should consult a dermatologist on how to get rid of the boil. Diagnosis of a boil is not difficult. To determine the etiology of the pathogen, bacteriological seeding of furuncle secretions is performed. Relapse of the disease and multiple chirias are indications for the patient to undergo a general examination with:
detailed blood and urine analysis;
blood glucose test;
bacteriological seeding of urine;
rhinoscopy and pharyngoscopy;
x-ray of the paranasal sinuses;
FLG;
Ultrasound of the OBP (abdominal organs).
If necessary, the patient should additionally consult with various specialists, such as: otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist. With a developing complication, it may be necessary to carry out blood sampling for sterility, computed tomography of the kidneys, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, lumbar puncture.
Sometimes furunculosis has to be differentiated from anthrax carbuncles and hydradenitis (inflammation of the sweat glands).
The favorite place of hydradenitis is the armpits, less common in the inguinal and perianal areas and near the nipples in women. In this disease, there is no necrotic rod, but swelling rising above the surface of the skin is characteristic.
With a carbuncle, edema is more pronounced than with a boil, the pustule at the top has a blood accumulation and is covered with a black hard crust surrounded by numerous small bubbles with serous hemorrhagic exudates. Pus is not secreted.
Complications of the boil
Despite the apparent simplicity of the disease, even a single boil can become a source of serious exacerbations. More often, boils located on the nasal mucosa and in the area of the nasolabial triangle are subjected to complications. Attempts to squeeze out the boil, the lack of proper treatment and its injury contribute to the development of complications.
Complications of the disease are divided by localization:
local (erysipelas, abscess, carbuncle, phlegmon);
distant (lymphangitis, phlebitis, lymphadenitis);
common (meningitis, furunculosis, sepsis, arachnoiditis, furunculosis).
Local
Local complications arise due to pathogenic staphylococcal bacteria separated by the boil, infecting other areas of the skin. The combination of several boils provokes more extensive purulent processes and lesions of the skin, such as:
abscess;
carbuncle;
phlegmon of soft tissues.
The multiple nature of the appearance of boils is called furunculosis.
Long-term and general complications
The penetration of infection from the boil into the lymph nodes and veins provokes the development of phlebitis, lymphangitis, thrombophlebitis and lymphadenitis. If staphylococcal bacteria penetrate and spread through the arterial vessels, then this process causes the development of hematogenous abscesses, sepsis and pyelonephritis. Boils on the face can become complicated and contribute to the development of sepsis or purulent meningitis.
Treatment of a boil
Usually, with boils, only local treatment is prescribed, which depends on the stage of the disease. When the boil passes the stage of maturation, specialists prescribe the application of ichthyol dressings, the use of dry heat, ultra-high frequency therapy. After the breakthrough of the boil, bandages are applied with an active sorbent, such as sodium chloride, gauze swabs with Levomekol or Levosin ointment. If the rod is difficult to detach, then chymotrypsin or trypsin is prescribed. Therapy in the healing stage of the boil is carried out with the use of antibacterial and healing agents.
In case of a relapse of the disease or multiple character, it is necessary to connect therapy aimed at strengthening immunity. To do this , apply:
ultraviolet and intravenous laser irradiation of blood;
autohemotherapy;
administration of staphyloanatoxin or gamma globulin.
Drug therapy of immunity is prescribed depending on the results of the immunogram. Complex treatment with antibiotics is carried out in the case of a complicated, large or recurrent boil, as well as when it appears on the face. Along with the treatment of the boil, concomitant diseases are treated and complications are suppressed.
Prevention of the appearance of boils
To prevent the appearance of a boil, there are a number of preventive measures:
compliance with hygiene measures;
properly selected skin care products for increased sweat and sebum;
treatment of skin injuries with antiseptic drugs;
properly appropriate therapy for superficial forms of pyoderma;
correction of metabolic disorders and vitamins;
therapy of chronic forms of diseases;
maintaining a healthy lifestyle that allows you to strengthen the immune system.
Preventive measures of complications are to prevent injury to the boil and further infection. It is not recommended to treat boils yourself. And in order to find out how to treat a boil and how to get rid of it, you need to consult a specialist in the field of dermatology and get appropriate recommendations.
