Surgery diseases >>>> Furuncle and methods of its treatment

Furuncle and methods of its treatment.

A furuncle occurs as a result of purulent inflammation of the sebaceous gland, hair follicle and adjacent tissues. The cause of suppuration is pyogenic bacteria that enter the skin during microtraumas (scratching, abrasions, cuts when shaving). The most common cause and causative agent of a furuncle is staphylococcus aureus.

Factors accompanying and provoking the occurrence of a furuncle can be enlarged pores of the skin, increased sebum secretion, increased sweating, a decreased response of the immune system, metabolic disorders in the body, hypothermia, sharp fluctuations in temperature.

A furuncle can occur anywhere on the skin where there is a hair follicle. As a rule, the furuncle is located on the skin of the face, neck, hands, lower back, buttocks, back. The most dangerous location of the furuncle is the nasolabial triangle and the upper lip, since it is these places in the face area that are covered with a network of venous vessels and a lymphatic network, which provokes the malignant course of the furuncle. With such a turn of the inflammatory process, thrombophlebitis of the veins of the face develops, and the infection has the ability to spread into the cranial cavity. This complication of the furuncle is accompanied by high fever, headaches, a violation of the general state of health, threatens the development of sepsis, meningitis and dangerously death.

Signs of a furuncle appear gradually: first, painful erythema (redness) occurs, followed by a swelling at the site of erythema, which, over time, forms into a cone that rises above the level of the skin and has an infiltration site in the center. The infiltrate gradually softens, a breakthrough occurs and the purulent contents are released outward. In the place of the breakthrough of the furuncle, you can see a section of necrotic tissue that has a greenish tint - this is the core of the furuncle. After two to three days, the rod, along with the remaining pus, is rejected and an ulcer is formed, which heals within a few days, leaving a scar. The total time of development and maturation of the furuncle ranges from eight to ten days, rarely up to two weeks. Usually, a furuncle is not accompanied by an increase in temperature, but in more difficult cases, the body temperature can rise to subfebrile.

How to treat a furuncle:

The main rule that must be observed is that under no circumstances should one pierce, cut and / or squeeze a furuncle at home.

Treatment of a furuncle depends on the localization and stage of the process, its complexity, requires a medical examination and consultation.

Until the formation of a purulent infiltrate, ultraviolet irradiation is indicated. When the process of suppuration begins, the place of the infiltrate is injected around the perimeter with injections of an antibiotic with painkillers (this technique is called a blockade and gives good results in terms of the speed of healing). Along with antibiotic therapy, antiseptic dressings are applied with ichthyol ointment or salicylic acid (you can alternate). After opening the furuncle, the wound requires the use of antiseptics for treating wounds: hydrogen peroxide (or furacilin, rivanol).

The opened wound needs daily dressings until the moment of healing. At the time of dressing, the skin around the furuncle is treated with alcohol, methylene blue, brilliant green, iodine. To accelerate the regeneration processes, ointments (streptocidal, synthomycin) are applied to the wound. UHF or other physiotherapy procedures are used only at the healing stage. Warming compresses are not permissible for any purulent-inflammatory processes, especially during the ripening period of the furuncle, since they can provoke the spread of a purulent process to adjacent tissues and cause multiple furunculosis. Improper treatment is dangerous by the transformation of the boil into an abscess or phlegmon, which will lead to surgical treatment and many complications.

If there is a tendency to furunculosis, then it is necessary to take preventive measures to correct the activity of the immune system, check for the presence of diseases such as diabetes mellitus (which in turn can complicate the development of a furuncle and slow down its natural outcome), skin diseases. With a tendency to furunculosis, it is necessary to revise the diet and give up fatty, spicy foods, alcohol, carbohydrates. Carefully monitor the hygiene of problem areas of the skin, avoid injuries (including squeezing blackheads).