Furuncle

Alternative names:

boils; hair follicle infection; infection - hair follicle

Symptoms:

• skin lesions
  • small firm tender red nodule in skin (early)
  • usually pea-sized, may occasionally be as large as a golf ball
  • swollen
  • pink or red
  • may grow rapidly
  • fluctuant nodule (later)
  • may develop white or yellow centers (pustules)
  • may weep, ooze, crust (later)
  • located with hair follicles
  • tender, mildly to moderately painful
  • may be single or multiple
  • may run together (coalesce) or spread to other skin areas
  • pain increases as pus and dead tissue fills the area
  • pain decreases as the area drains

• skin redness or inflammation around the boil
• fever (occasionally)
• fatigue (occasionally)
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) (occasionally)

Note: Itching (pruritus) of the skin may occur before the skin lesions develop.

Signs and tests:

Diagnosis is primarily based on the appearance of the skin. Skin or mucosal biopsy culture may show staphylococcus or other bacteria.