Furuncle

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Furuncle

Furuncle (pronounced: fyoo-rung-kuhl), also known as a boil, is a deep folliculitis, an 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.

Etymology

The term "furuncle" comes from the Latin word "furunculus", which means "little thief". This could be in reference to the infection "stealing" the health of the individual, causing discomfort and pain.

Symptoms

Furuncles can occur anywhere on the body, but they're most common on the face, neck, armpits, buttocks, and thighs. The main symptoms include a painful, red bump that starts out about the size of a pea, red, swollen skin around the bump, an increase in the size of the bump over a few days as it fills with pus (a process known as suppuration), and development of a yellow-white tip that eventually ruptures and allows the pus to drain out.

Treatment

Treatment may include warm compresses and if the infection is severe, antibiotics. In some cases, the furuncle may need to be drained by a healthcare professional. This should not be attempted at home as it could spread the infection or cause further complications.

Prevention

Prevention of furuncles includes maintaining good personal hygiene, washing hands regularly with soap, not sharing personal items such as towels or razors, and keeping cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed.

Related Terms

  • Carbuncle: A cluster of furuncles that form a connected area of infection under the skin.
  • Folliculitis: Inflammation or infection of one or more hair follicles.
  • Abscess: A confined pocket of pus that collects in tissues, organs, or spaces inside the body.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski