Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Furuncle
Symptoms
A boil may begin as a tender, pinkish-red, swollen, firm area in the skin. Over time, it will feel like a water-filled balloon or
Pain gets worse as it fills with pus and dead tissue, and improves as it drains. It may drain on its own. More often the patient or someone else opens the boil.
The boil:
- Is usually pea-sized, but may be as large as a golf ball
- May develop white or yellow centers (
pustules ) - May join with another boil or spread to other skin areas
- May grow quickly
- May weep, ooze, or crust
Other symptoms may include:
Fatigue Fever - General ill-feeling
- Itching before the boil develops
-
Skin redness around the boil
Signs and tests
The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. A
Images
Previous Section
Review Date: 10/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
