Boil overview
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Boil Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Boil overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Boil overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jesus Rosario Hernandez, M.D. [2]
Overview
Boil or furuncle is a skin disease caused by the inflammation of hair follicles, thus resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissue. Individual boils can cluster together and form an interconnected network of boils called carbuncles. In severe cases, boils may develop to form abscesses.
Causes
Boils are generally caused by an infection of the hair follicles by Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, a strain of bacterium that normally lives on the skin surface. It is thought that a tiny cut of the skin allows this bacterium to enter the follicles and cause an infection. This can happen during bathing or while using a razor.
