Furuncle, Furunculosis

A furuncle is a purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle and the associated sebaceous gland, caused by the pyogenic microbe staphylococcus. The development of a boil is promoted by constant skin contamination, friction with clothing, skin irritation with chemicals, abrasions, scratching and other microtraumas, as well as increased activity of the sweat and sebaceous glands of the skin, vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders. A boil can develop on any part of the skin where there is hair. Most often, the boil is localized on the neck (in the back of the head), face, back of the hands and on the lower back.

The development of a boil begins with the appearance of a dense, painful tubercle or nodule of bright red color, rising above the skin level in a small cone. On the 3-4th day, a softening area appears in the center of the tubercle - a purulent “head”. The boil then bursts, releasing a small amount of pus. At the site of the breakthrough, an area of ​​greenish necrotic tissue is found - the core of the boil. After 2-3 days, the rod is rejected along with pus and blood.

The formation of multiple boils is called furunculosis. There are local and general furunculosis. Local, or localized, furunculosis occurs in a limited area of ​​skin (usually in the neck, lower back, forearms or buttocks) and is caused by violation of sanitary and hygienic rules or improper treatment of a single boil. General, or widespread, furunculosis affects large areas of the skin; it most often occurs in weakened people (lack of nutrition, hypovitaminosis A, C and group B), who have suffered severe general infections or suffering from chronic diseases and metabolic disorders (diabetes, colitis, anacid gastritis, nephritis, anemia, etc.), with sudden hypothermia or overheating, prolonged physical fatigue and functional disorders of the nervous system.

Furunculosis can be acute or chronic. In the acute form, boils occur simultaneously or within a short period of time, often accompanied by malaise, headache, and fever. With chronic furunculosis, boils appear periodically over a long period of time, usually on the same area of ​​skin. Chronic furunculosis may be associated with a disorder of the immune system, thyroid diseases, metabolic disorders and other factors.

Treatment of furunculosis depends on the severity of the disease and the general condition of the patient. In most cases, a single boil is treated conservatively - antiseptic agents, treatment of the site of inflammation with antimicrobial drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures (UV irradiation, infrared rays), as well as immunomodulators and vitamins are used. For numerous and recurrent boils, surgical intervention may be required.

Prevention of furunculosis includes following the rules of personal hygiene, regularly washing the skin, avoiding injuries and pollution, strengthening the immune system through proper nutrition and the use of vitamin and mineral complexes, as well as timely treatment of common diseases and metabolic disorders.