Boil / Carbuncle / Abscess

Boil:

It is an accumulation of pus in skin. The word boil is a non specific term commonly used for folliculitis, furuncle or carbuncle.

Causes:

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause.

Folliculitis:

 It is the inflammation of hair follicle. It initially appears as red tender area latter on becomes yellowish, the surface become soft and the pus is drained by itself. It usually occurs due to trauma, occlusive clothing’s, contaminated water.

Furuncle:

It basically involves piliosebaceous unit. It is bigger than folliculitis commonly occurring in Axilla, Neck, and Buttock. It is common in diabetes and patients on steroids.

Carbuncle:

When many furuncles combine together they form carbuncle.

Management of Boil:

Most of the subtypes are self limited they will drain by itself, or sometimes they need antibiotics and analgesics.

         i.            Cephalaxin

       ii.            Dicloxacillin

Rarely incision and drainage is done.