Boils (Abscesses)

What is a boil?

A boil is a tender, red lump in the skin. It is painful even when not being touched. Boils are usually 1/2 to 1 inch across.

What is the cause?

A bacterial infection of a hair root or skin pore caused by Staphylococcus (also called staph bacteria).

How long does it last?

Without treatment, the body will fight off the infection. After about a week, the center of the boil becomes soft and mushy (filled with pus). The overlying skin then develops a pimple or becomes thin and pale. The boil is now ready for draining. Without lancing, it will drain by itself in 3 or 4 days. Until it drains, a boil is extremely painful.

How can I take care of my child?

• Antibiotics

  Boils heal faster and are less likely to recur if your child receives an antibiotic that kills staph bacteria.

  Your child's antibiotic is __________________________. Your child's dosage is _________ given _______ times a day for _______ days.

• Lancing or draining the boil

  In general, it's better not to open a boil on your own child because it's a very painful procedure. Until the boil comes to a head or becomes soft, apply warm compresses 3 times a day for 20 minutes. When the boil is ready, contact your child's health care provider. If you must open it yourself, use a sterile needle (sterilized with alcohol or a flame), make a large opening, and squeeze very gently or not at all.

  Once opened, the boil will drain pus for 2 or 3 days and then heal. Since the pus is contagious, the boil must be covered by a large 4 x 4 inch gauze bandage and microporous tape. This bandage should be changed and the area washed with an antiseptic soap 3 times a day.

• Prevention of more boils

  Boils can easily become a recurrent problem. The staph bacteria on the skin can be decreased by showering and washing the hair daily with an antibacterial soap. Showers are preferred because during a bath bacteria are just moved to other parts of the skin.

• Contagiousness

  Boils are contagious. Make sure that other people in your family do not use your child's towel or washcloth. Any clothes, towels, or sheets that are contaminated with drainage from the boils should be washed with Lysol. Any bandages with pus on them should be carefully thrown away.

• Common mistakes in the treatment of boils

  Sometimes friends or relatives may advise you to squeeze a boil until you get the core out. The pus in a boil will come out easily if the opening is large enough. Vigorous squeezing is not only very painful but also carries the risk that bacteria will be forced into the bloodstream. Squeezing can also cause other boils in the same area. Again, squeezing should be done very gently or not at all (as on the face).

When should I call my child's health care provider?

Call during office hours if:

• The boil is not better within 48 hours after starting the antibiotic.
• The boil has come to a head and needs to be opened.
• You have other concerns or questions.