A painful, circumscribed pus-filled inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue usually caused by a local staphylococcal infection.

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.

Cause: Staphylococci aureus bacterial infection.

Signs & 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.

Complications: Sepsis, Cellulitis, Folliculitis, Impetigo, Abrasions, Cuts.

Treatment Plan:

• The medicines to be given to reduce the pain, spread of infection, fever.
• To avoid recurrence of the boils.