Boil - wikipedia Boil This article is about the contagious skin disease. For the change in state from liquid to gas, see Boiling. For other uses, see Boil ( disambiguation ). Boils Furuncle Classification and external resources Specialty General surgery ICD - 10 L02 ICD - 9 - CM 680.9 DiseasesDB 29434 MedlinePlus 001474 000825 MeSH D005667 ( edit on Wikidata ) A boil, also called a furuncle, is a deep folliculitis, infection of the hair follicle. It is most commonly caused by infection by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by an accumulation of pus and dead tissue. Boils which are expanded are basically pus - filled nodules. Individual boils clustered together are called carbuncles. Most human infections are caused by coagulase - positive S. aureus strains, notable for the bacteria 's ability to produce coagulase, an enzyme that can clot blood. Almost any organ system can be infected by S. aureus. Contents 1 Signs and symptoms 1.1 Complications 2 Causes 2.1 Bacteria 2.2 Family history 2.3 Other 3 Diagnosis 4 Treatment 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Signs and Symptoms Boils are bumpy, red, pus - filled lumps around a hair follicle that are tender, warm, and very painful. They range from pea - sized to golf ball - sized. A yellow or white point at the center of the lump can be seen when the boil is ready to drain or discharge pus. In a severe infection, an individual may experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. A recurring boil is called chronic furunculosis. Skin infections tend to be recurrent in many patients and often spread to other family members. Systemic factors that lower resistance commonly are detectable, including : diabetes, obesity, and hematologic disorders. Boils can be caused by other skin conditions that cause the person to scratch and damage the skin. Boils may appear on the buttocks or near the anus, the back, the neck, the stomach, the chest, the arms or legs, or even in the ear canal. Boils may also appear around the eye, where they are called styes. A boil on the gum is called intraoral dental sinus, or more commonly, a gumboil. Complications The most common complications of boils are scarring and infection or abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organs. Infections may also spread to the bloodstream ( bacteremia ) and become life - threatening. S. aureus strains first infect the skin and its structures ( for example, sebaceous glands, hair follicles ) or invade damaged skin ( cuts, abrasions ). Sometimes the infections are relatively limited ( such as a stye, boil, furuncle, or carbuncle ), but other times they may spread to other skin areas ( causing cellulitis, folliculitis, or impetigo ). Unfortunately, these bacteria can reach the bloodstream ( bacteremia ) and end up in many different body sites, causing infections ( wound infections, abscesses, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pneumonia ) that may severely harm or kill the infected person. S. aureus strains also produce enzymes and exotoxins that likely cause or increase the severity of certain diseases. Such diseases include food poisoning, septic shock, toxic shock syndrome, and scalded skin syndrome. Almost any organ system can be infected by S. aureus. Squeezing or cutting boils in the danger triangle of the face can be particularly dangerous if done outside a medical setting, as blood vessels in this area drain into the brain and can carry serious infections there. Causes Bacteria Naturally the cause is bacteria such as staphylococci that are present on the skin. Bacterial colonisation begins in the hair follicles and can cause local cellulitis and inflammation. Myiasis caused by the tumbu fly in Africa usually presents with cutaneous furuncles. Risk factors for furunculosis include bacterial carriage in the nostrils, diabetes mellitus, obesity, lymphoproliferative neoplasms, malnutrition, and use of immunosuppressive drugs.. Family history People with recurrent boils are as well more likely to have a positive family history, take antibiotics, and to have been hospitalised, anemic, or diabetic ; they are also more likely to have associated skin diseases and multiple lesions. Other Other causes include poor immune system function such as from HIV / AIDS, diabetes, malnutrition, or alcoholism. Poor hygiene and obesity have also been linked. It may occur following antibiotic use due to the development of resistance to the antibiotics used. An associated skin disease favors recurrence. This may be attributed to the persistent colonization of abnormal skin with S. aureus strains, such as is the case in persons with atopic dermatitis. Boils which recur under the arm, breast or in the groin area may be associated with hidradenitis suppurativa ( HS ). Diagnosis Diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation by a physician, which may include culturing of the lesion. Treatment A boil may clear up on its own without bursting, but more often it will need to be opened and drained. This will usually happen spontaneously within two weeks. Regular application of a warm moist compress, both before and after a boil opens, can help speed healing. The area must be kept clean, hands washed after touching it, and any dressings disposed of carefully, in order to avoid spreading the bacteria. A doctor may cut open or `` lance '' a boil to allow it to drain, but squeezing or cutting should not be attempted at home, as this may further spread the infection. Antibiotic therapy may be recommended for large or recurrent boils or those that occur in sensitive areas ( such as the groin, breasts, armpits, around or in the nostrils, or in the ear ). Antibiotics should not be used for longer than one month, with at least two months ( preferably longer ) between uses, otherwise it will lose its effectiveness. If the patient has chronic ( more than two years ) boils, removal by plastic surgery may be indicated. Furuncles at risk of leading to serious complications should be incised and drained if antibiotics or steroid injections are not effective. These include furuncles that are unusually large, last longer than two weeks, or occur in the middle of the face or near the spine. Fever and chills are signs of sepsis and indicate immediate treatment is needed. Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance easily, making treatment difficult. Knowledge of the antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus is important in the selection of antimicrobials for treatment. See also Nodule ( medicine ) Cutaneous condition References ^ Jump up to : MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Furuncle Jump up ^ `` Causes and Cures of Skin ''. Healthguidance.org. Retrieved 26 July 2014. Jump up ^ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Carbuncle ^ Jump up to : Blume JE, Levine EG, Heymann WR ( 2003 ). `` Bacterial diseases ''. In Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP. Dermatology. Mosby. p. 1126. ISBN 0 - 323 - 02409 - 2. ^ Jump up to : Habif, TP ( 2004 ). `` Furuncles and carbuncles ''. Clinical Dermatology : A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy ( 4th ed. ). Philadelphia PA : Mosby. ^ Jump up to : Wolf K ; et al. ( 2005 ). `` Section 22. Bacterial infections involving the skin ''. Fitzpatrick 's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology ( 5th ed. ). McGraw - Hill. Jump up ^ Steele RW, Laner SA, Graves MH ( February 1980 ). `` Recurrent staphylococcal infection in families '' ( PDF ). Arch Dermatol. 116 ( 2 ) : 189 -- 90. doi : 10.1001 / archderm. 1980.01640260065016. PMID 7356349. Jump up ^ `` Boils, Carbuncles and Furunculosis ''. Patient.info. Retrieved 26 July 2014. Jump up ^ `` Boils, Kidshealth ''. Retrieved 26 July 2014. Jump up ^ Lina G, Piémont Y, Godail - Gamot F, Bes M, Peter MO, Gauduchon V, Vandenesch F, Etienne J ( November 1999 ). `` Involvement of Panton - Valentine leukocidin - producing Staphylococcus aureus in primary skin infections and pneumonia ''. Clin Infect Dis. 29 ( 5 ) : 1128 -- 32. doi : 10.1086 / 313461. PMID 10524952. Jump up ^ `` Staph Infection Causes, Symptoms, Treatment -- Staph Infection Diagnosis -- eMedicineHealth ''. eMedicineHealth. Jump up ^ Tamir J, Haik J, Schwartz E ( 2003 ). `` Myiasis with Lund 's fly ( Cordylobia rodhaini ) in travellers ''. J Travel Med. 10 ( 5 ) : 293 -- 95. doi : 10.2310 / 7060.2003. 2732. PMID 14531984. Jump up ^ Scheinfeld NS ( 2007 ). `` Furunculosis ''. Consultant. 47 ( 2 ). Jump up ^ El - Gilany AH, Fathy H ( January 2009 ). `` Risk factors of recurrent furunculosis ''. Dermatol Online J. 15 ( 1 ) : 16. PMID 19281721. ^ Jump up to : Demos, M ; McLeod, MP ; Nouri, K ( Oct 2012 ). `` Recurrent furunculosis : a review of the literature ''. The British Journal of Dermatology. 167 ( 4 ) : 725 -- 32. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2133.2012. 11151. x. PMID 22803835. ^ Jump up to : Laube S, Farrell M ( 2002 ). `` Bacterial skin infection in the elderly : diagnosis and treatment ''. Drugs and Aging. 19 ( 5 ) : 331 -- 42. doi : 10.2165 / 00002512 - 200219050 - 00002. PMID 12093320. Jump up ^ `` What is this boil like abscess under your arm, breast or groin ''. The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Trust. Retrieved 28 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Furuncles and Carbuncles ''. Merck Manuals. August 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018. Jump up ^ Mayo Clinic Archived 15 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 14. Jump up ^ Nagaraju U, Bhat G, Kuruvila M, Pai GS, Babu RP ( 2004 ). `` Methicillin - resistant staphylococcus aureus in community - acquired pyoderma ''. Int J Dermatol. 43 ( 6 ) : 412 -- 14. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 4632.2004. 02138. x. PMID 15186220. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Furuncles. DermAtlas 1817374494 Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology Growths Epidermal wart callus seborrheic keratosis acrochordon molluscum contagiosum actinic keratosis squamous - cell carcinoma basal - cell carcinoma Merkel - cell carcinoma nevus sebaceous trichoepithelioma Pigmented Freckles lentigo melasma nevus melanoma Dermal and subcutaneous epidermal inclusion cyst hemangioma dermatofibroma ( benign fibrous histiocytoma ) keloid lipoma neurofibroma xanthoma Kaposi 's sarcoma infantile digital fibromatosis granular cell tumor leiomyoma lymphangioma circumscriptum myxoid cyst Rashes With epidermal involvement Eczematous contact dermatitis atopic dermatitis seborrheic dermatitis stasis dermatitis lichen simplex chronicus Darier 's disease glucagonoma syndrome langerhans cell histiocytosis lichen sclerosus pemphigus foliaceus Wiskott -- Aldrich syndrome Zinc deficiency Scaling psoriasis tinea ( corporis cruris pedis manuum faciei ) pityriasis rosea secondary syphilis mycosis fungoides systemic lupus erythematosus pityriasis rubra pilaris parapsoriasis ichthyosis Blistering herpes simplex herpes zoster varicella bullous impetigo acute contact dermatitis pemphigus vulgaris bullous pemphigoid dermatitis herpetiformis porphyria cutanea tarda epidermolysis bullosa simplex Papular scabies insect bite reactions lichen planus miliaria keratosis pilaris lichen spinulosus transient acantholytic dermatosis lichen nitidus pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta Pustular acne vulgaris acne rosacea folliculitis impetigo candidiasis gonococcemia dermatophyte coccidioidomycosis subcorneal pustular dermatosis Hypopigmented tinea versicolor vitiligo pityriasis alba postinflammatory hyperpigmentation tuberous sclerosis idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis leprosy hypopigmented mycosis fungoides Without epidermal involvement Red Blanchable Erythema Generalized drug eruptions viral exanthems toxic erythema systemic lupus erythematosus Localized cellulitis abscess boil erythema nodosum carcinoid syndrome fixed drug eruption Specialized urticaria erythema ( multiforme migrans gyratum repens annulare centrifugum ab igne ) Nonblanchable Purpura Macular thrombocytopenic purpura actinic / solar purpura Papular disseminated intravascular coagulation vasculitis Indurated scleroderma / morphea granuloma annulare lichen sclerosis et atrophicus necrobiosis lipoidica Miscellaneous disorders Ulcers Hair telogen effluvium androgenic alopecia alopecia areata systemic lupus erythematosus tinea capitis loose anagen syndrome lichen planopilaris folliculitis decalvans acne keloidalis nuchae Nail onychomycosis psoriasis paronychia ingrown nail Mucous membrane Aphthous stomatitis oral candidiasis lichen planus leukoplakia pemphigus vulgaris mucous membrane pemphigoid cicatricial pemphigoid herpesvirus coxsackievirus syphilis systemic histoplasmosis squamous - cell carcinoma Bacterial skin disease ( L00 -- L08, 680 -- 686 ) Gram + ve Firmicutes Staphylococcus Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Impetigo Toxic shock syndrome Streptococcus Impetigo Cutaneous group B streptococcal infection Streptococcal intertrigo Cutaneous Streptococcus iniae infection Erysipelas / Chronic recurrent erysipelas Scarlet fever Corynebacterium Erythrasma Listeriosis Clostridium Gas gangrene Dermatitis gangrenosa Mycoplasma Erysipeloid of Rosenbach Actinobacteria Mycobacterium - related : Aquarium granuloma Borderline lepromatous leprosy Borderline leprosy Borderline tuberculoid leprosy Buruli ulcer Erythema induratum Histoid leprosy Lepromatous leprosy Leprosy Lichen scrofulosorum Lupus vulgaris Miliary tuberculosis Mycobacterium avium - intracellulare complex infection Mycobacterium haemophilum infection Mycobacterium kansasii infection Papulonecrotic tuberculid Primary inoculation tuberculosis Rapid growing mycobacterium infection Scrofuloderma Tuberculosis cutis orificialis Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis Tuberculous cellulitis Tuberculous gumma Tuberculoid leprosy Cutaneous actinomycosis Nocardiosis Cutaneous diphtheria infection Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection Group JK corynebacterium sepsis Gram - ve Proteobacteria α : Endemic typhus Epidemic typhus Scrub typhus North Asian tick typhus Queensland tick typhus Flying squirrel typhus Trench fever Bacillary angiomatosis African tick bite fever American tick bite fever Rickettsia aeschlimannii infection Rickettsialpox Rocky Mountain spotted fever Human granulocytotropic anaplasmosis Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis Flea - borne spotted fever Japanese spotted fever Mediterranean spotted fever Flinders Island spotted fever Verruga peruana Brill -- Zinsser disease Brucellosis Cat - scratch disease Oroya fever Ehrlichiosis ewingii infection β : Gonococcemia / Gonorrhea / Primary gonococcal dermatitis Melioidosis Cutaneous Pasteurella hemolytica infection Meningococcemia Glanders Chromobacteriosis infection γ : Pasteurellosis Tularemia Vibrio vulnificus Rhinoscleroma Haemophilus influenzae cellulitis Pseudomonal pyoderma / Pseudomonas hot - foot syndrome / Hot tub folliculitis / Ecthyma gangrenosum / Green nail syndrome Q fever Salmonellosis Shigellosis Plague Granuloma inguinale Chancroid Aeromonas infection ε : Helicobacter cellulitis Other Syphilid Syphilis Chancre Yaws Pinta Bejel Chlamydia infection Leptospirosis Rat - bite fever Lyme disease Lymphogranuloma venereum Unspecified pathogen Abscess Periapical abscess Boil / furuncle Hospital furunculosis Carbuncle Cellulitis Paronychia / Pyogenic paronychia Perianal cellulitis Acute lymphadenitis Pilonidal cyst Pyoderma Folliculitis Superficial pustular folliculitis Sycosis vulgaris Pimple Ecthyma Pitted keratolysis Trichomycosis axillaris Necrotizing fascitis Gangrene Chronic undermining burrowing ulcers Fournier gangrene Elephantiasis nostras Blistering distal dactylitis Botryomycosis Malakoplakia Gram - negative folliculitis Gram - negative toe web infection Pyomyositis Blastomycosis - like pyoderma Bullous impetigo Chronic lymphangitis Recurrent toxin - mediated perineal erythema Tick - borne lymphadenopathy Tropical ulcer Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boil&oldid=838894865 '' Categories : Bacterium - related cutaneous conditions Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates from July 2013 Infobox medical condition All pages needing factual verification Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from October 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Català Dansk Deutsch Eesti Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Gàidhlig 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Қазақша Kiswahili Кыргызча Лезги Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Română Русский Sicilianu Slovenščina Suomi Svenska Tagalog Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Українська 中文 35 more Edit links This page was last edited on 29 April 2018, at 23 : 51. 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Question: where do boils on the body come from
Answer: bacteria such as staphylococci that are present on the skin