2. DEFINITION
A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair
follicle or oil gland.
A boil is a common ,painful infection of a hair follicle
and the surrounding skin.
This is also called furuncle. It is a hair follicle
infection caused by Staphylococus aureus or
secondary infection of a sebaceous cyst.
4. PRECIPITATING FACTORS:
Diabetes.
Problems with the immune system
Poor nutrition.
Poor hygiene
Exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin
Scratching.
5. Sign and symptoms:
A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually about
half an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump
becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a
pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are
the signs of a severe infection:
The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red,
painful, warm, and swollen. Skin overlying the boil
also undergoes necrosis. Hence, boil is included under
acute infective gangrene.
6. More boils may appear around the original one.
A fever may develop.
Lymph nodes may become swollen.
Furuncle of the external auditory meatus is a very
painful condition because of the rich nerve supply of
the skin.
8. Treatment :
Apply warm compresses and soak the boil in warm water. This
will decrease the pain and help draw the pus to the surface. Once
the boil comes to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings.
This usually occurs within 10 days of its appearance. You can
make a warm compress by soaking a wash cloth in warm water
and squeezing out the excess moisture.
When the boil starts draining, wash it with an antibacterial soap
until all the pus is gone and clean with rubbing alcohol. Apply a
medicated ointment (topical antibiotic) and a bandage. Continue
to wash the infected area two to three times a day and to use
warm compresses until the wound heals.
9. Do not pop the boil with a needle. This could make the
infection worse.
Incision and drainage with excision of slough.
Antibiotic cloxacillin is given. Diabetes, if present, is
treated.
10. HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT:
Belladonna:
The boil is in the early stage and the skin
is red, hot, throbbing and very tender with violent
stabbing pains.
Hepar Sulph:
This remedy helps bring the boil to a
head and aid discharging. The boil is very painful,
inflamed, red around the edge and feels very sensitive
even to the slightest touch. The pain feels sharp or
prickling. Useful when pus is developing and will
help with suppuration.
11. Silica:
For hard lump boils that are slow to
develop, slow to come to a head, or slow to heal and
disperse. Silica can help ripen the boil and assist
expulsion of its contents.
Arsenicum:
Large painful boils with burning pains,
better for warm applications. The person experiences a
lot of anxiety and worry about the condition.
12. Preventing Boils:
Help prevent boils by following these guidelines:
Carefully wash clothes, bedding, and towels of a
family member who is infected with boils.
Clean and treat minor skin wounds.
Practice good personal hygiene.
Stay as healthy as possible.
