Boils (cont.)
Who is most likely to develop a boil?
Anyone can develop a boil. However, people with certain illnesses or medications that impair the body's immune system (the natural defense system against foreign materials or microbes) are more likely to develop boils. Among the illnesses that can be associated with impaired immune systems are diabetes and kidney failure. Diseases, such as hypogammaglobulinemia, that are associated with deficiencies in the
normal immune system can increase the tendency to develop boils.
Many medications can suppress the normal immune system and increase the risk of developing boils. These medications include cortisone medications (prednisone and prednisolone) and medications used for cancer chemotherapy.
What is the treatment for a boil?
Most simple boils can be treated at home. Ideally, the treatment should
begin as soon as a boil is noticed since early treatment may prevent
later complications.
The primary treatment for most boils is heat application, usually
with hot soaks or hot packs. Heat application increases the circulation
to the area and allows the body to better fight off the infection by bringing antibodies and white blood cells to the site of infection.
As long
as the boil is small and firm, opening the area and draining the boil is
not helpful, even if the area is painful. However, once the boil becomes
soft or "forms a head" (that is, a small pustule is noted in the boil),
it can be ready to drain. Once drained, pain relief can be dramatic. Most small
boils, such as those that form around hairs, drain on their own with
soaking. On occasion, and especially with larger boils, the larger boil will need to
be drained or "lanced" by a health-care practitioner. Frequently,
these larger boils contain several pockets of pus that must be opened
and drained.
Antibiotics are often used to eliminate the accompanying bacterial infection. Especially if there is an infection of the surrounding skin, the
doctor often prescribes antibiotics. However, antibiotics are not needed in every situation. In fact, antibiotics have difficulty penetrating the outer wall of an abscess well and often will not cure an abscess without additional surgical drainage.
Next: When should I seek medical attention? »
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