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boil |
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boil or furuncle (fy r`ŭngkəl), tender, painful inflammatory nodule in the skin, which becomes pustular but with a hard center (see abscess abscess, localized inflamation associated with tissue necrosis. Abscesses are characterized by inflamation, which is due to the accumulation of pus in the local tissues, and often painful swelling...... Click the link for more information. ). It may be caused by any of various microbes, the most usual being Staphylococcus aureus. If proper care and precautions are not taken it may spread to many sites (a condition called furunculosis). Several adjoining furuncles that coalesce are known as a carbuncle carbuncle, acute inflammatory nodule of the skin caused by bacterial invasion into the hair follicles or sebaceous gland ducts. It is actually a boil , but one that has more than one focus of infection, i.e., involves several follicles or ducts. ..... Click the link for more information. . The point of entry is usually a hair follicle or a sebaceous gland duct. Boils may occur anywhere in the skin but are most common at places where the skin is constantly exposed or chafed—neck, face, ear, armpit, breast, and extremities. The treatment of small boils consists of scrupulous cleanliness, protection from irritation, and applications of antibiotic ointments and moist heat. Large boils, especially those on the nose, upper lip, or near the eyes (where there is the greatest danger of their causing meningitis or blood poisoning), must be treated professionally with antibiotics. Such lesions should be incised and drained by a physician rather than allowed to discharge spontaneously. boilor furuncle or furunculosisInflamed pus-filled swelling due to staphylococcus skin infection at a hair follicle. It is painful and feels hard. Boils usually occur in hairy areas exposed to friction and maceration. Scratching an existing skin disorder may introduce staphylococci on the skin into hair follicles and cause a boil to arise. A carbuncle occurs when several adjoining boils merge. Healing requires discharging the pus. Treatment involves antibiotics. boil a red painful swelling with a hard pus-filled core caused by bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, esp at a hair follicle boil [bȯil] (medicine) How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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