Principles of diagnosis and treatment of chronic recurrent furunculosis

Stye is a disease of the eyelid, which is characterized by inflammation in the hair follicle of the eyelash or in the sebaceous gland near its bulb. The medical name of the pathology is hordeolum. It causes discomfort, since a swollen eye with stye looks unattractive and is accompanied by pain when moving the upper or lower eyelid. Pathology can manifest itself regardless of age - in both adults and children. The disease usually affects one eye.

The appearance of stye on the eye occurs unexpectedly. When the inflammatory process develops rapidly, patients are interested in what to do in such a situation. Immediate treatment is required. This violation should not be treated as a temporary inconvenience. Its occurrence indicates that the body’s immune forces are reduced.

Symptoms of the disease

The formation of a boil manifests itself as follows:

• a small raised cone-shaped nodule above the skin;
• change in skin tone over the tubercle to red-violet;
• increased pain in the inflamed area;
• swelling of surrounding tissues;
• the formation of a white dot in the center of the painful area;
• opening of an abscess;
• discharge of necrotic hair follicle and purulent masses.

To establish a diagnosis and treatment, you should contact a surgeon.

Diagnosis of felon

The diagnosis is made based on the patient’s complaints and clinical symptoms of the disease. To determine the shape of the panaritium and clarify the localization of the abscess, palpation is performed with a button probe.

To exclude bone and articular panaritium, radiography is performed. It should be taken into account that, unlike bone panaritium, in the articular form of the disease, changes are not immediately detected and may be mildly expressed. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, comparative radiographs of the healthy finger of the same name on the other hand should be prescribed.

Complications of a boil

The disease may seem quite safe, but this is not so - a boil can cause complications that pose a serious threat to human health:

• furunculosis;
• phlegmon;
• erysipelas;
• carbuncle;
• lymphadenitis;
• inflammation of the veins;
• cutaneous lymphatic nocardiosis;
• inflammation of the vagina and uterus - formed in women from boils on the genitals;
• meningitis;
• accumulation of pus in the brain matter;
• abscesses in various tissues and internal organs;
• sepsis.

Prevention methods

You can reduce the risk of infection with staphylococcal bacteria and the development of furunculosis if:

• keep your body clean, take a shower regularly;
• carefully treat injuries and cuts;
• lead a healthy lifestyle;
• exercise regularly;
• diversify your diet, focusing on foods high in vitamins.

In addition, it is important to promptly treat emerging diseases of internal organs, as well as dress according to the season, avoiding overheating or hypothermia of the body.

General characteristics of the disease

Furuncle is a common disease - about 17% of dermatological patients are observed with it. Currently, an intensive increase in patients with the presence of boils in the nose and nasal cavity has been recorded. This significantly increases the likelihood of developing a chronic pathology – idiopathic non-allergic rhinitis.

The disease is common among adults, but boils can also appear in children. Men are susceptible to this disease more often than women. An increase in the incidence of furunculosis is observed during periods of vitamin deficiency - in autumn and spring.

Pus-drawing ointments

Ointments form the basis of drug therapy for boils on the skin.

Before using the ointment for the first time, you must first conduct an allergy test. Apply a small amount of the composition to an area of ​​healthy skin and leave for 2-3 hours. If after a while there is no redness, itching or burning, the ointment can be used to treat ulcers.

The causative agent of the boil

The formation of a boil is mainly due to the penetration of Staphylococcus aureus into the hair follicle. These bacteria can normally be found on the skin and are not dangerous. However, when introduced into the hair follicle, an inflammatory process begins.

The disease begins to develop with reduced immune activity. When the immune system is unable to fully prevent the spread and growth of pathogenic microorganisms, they begin to rapidly multiply and penetrate the pores. This leads to deterioration of the skin microflora and the formation of abscesses.

Is stye contagious?

It is not dangerous for others, but only if basic hygiene rules are followed. The risk of infection usually occurs in young children. Due to their age, they do not yet understand the importance of hygiene and therefore often suffer from bacterial infections. Infection is also possible when the patient uses cosmetics. But in general, isolation of an adult or child suffering from hordeolum is not required.

The causative agents of the disease are found in pus located in the barley sac. There are no bacteria on the surface. But there is usually little pus inside, so even a burst stye is not dangerous. In 80% of cases, the abscess breaks out at night when the patient is sleeping. If purulent masses end up anywhere, it is on a person’s face, his pillow, or bed linen. The infection does not spread further.

Prerequisites for development

It has been found that in the presence of certain skin characteristics or in the absence of proper care for it, the risk of the formation of boils increases significantly. People with these characteristics should monitor their health more closely and improve their immunity. The main factors that contribute to the formation of boils include the following:

1. Increased sweating. Sweat contains aggressive salts that negatively affect microflora. The protective qualities of the skin are reduced, thereby creating an optimal environment for the causative agent of the disease.
2. Presence of skin diseases or damage to the skin. Various cracks and rashes are excellent starting points for infection, thanks to which the pathogen is able to bypass several levels of defense in the body.
3. Irritated skin due to regular discharge from the ears or nose due to chronic illnesses. The constant presence of pathogens on the skin leads to a decrease in its protective properties.
4. Constant scratches, cuts and abrasions. Bacteria from the genus Staphylococcus can easily penetrate the hair follicles through various damage to the skin, which leads to the development of the disease.
5. Use of low quality skin cosmetics.
6. Lack of personal hygiene. On uncleaned skin, frequent friction causes irritation, which is an excellent conductor for the causative agent of the boil.
7. Disruption of the natural microflora of the skin due to regular exposure to irritants due to certain activities. Dust and lubricants are particularly hazardous.

If these features are present, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the skin. It is very important to properly care for the skin, and in case of damage, immediately treat it with antiseptic agents and protect it with a bandage or plaster. If a boil has formed, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Treatment of furunculosis at JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberg)

Qualified therapists and dermatologists of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberg) in the Central Administrative District of Moscow are ready to receive and examine patients with suspected furunculosis. To confirm the diagnosis, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination in your own laboratory center. Treatment is prescribed on an individual basis, and its progress and results are strictly monitored by specialists. Each client is guaranteed tactful and attentive treatment, confidentiality of personal information, as well as comfort and safety during diagnostic and treatment procedures.

How to open a boil yourself?

Dermatologists categorically do not recommend trying to cope with inflammation on your own, wanting to squeeze out the purulent contents and the core of the boil at home. This is dangerous due to secondary infection, the spread of the inflammatory process to healthy tissue, the formation of new areas of inflammation and blood poisoning. The decision to open a boil is made only by a surgeon at a specialized medical institution, and only he has the right to carry out such manipulations.

What does a boil look like?

A boil is a visible lump or red bump with a purulent head on the surface of the skin. When you touch its surface, you feel relatively severe pain, the skin around it is noticeably inflamed, and its temperature is increased. The most common places of development are the back of the head, the back of the hands, the lower back, and the face. The rash can be single or massive; its symptoms do not depend on the number of points of inflammation.

Why do boils appear?

This question can be answered accurately only after a thorough diagnosis of the boil. Among the most likely causes are infection of the hair follicle of the skin with staphylococcus bacteria against the background of vitamin deficiency, violation of personal hygiene rules, wearing too tight clothes, poor-quality antiseptic treatment of abrasions and skin injuries. The disease can also be caused by intense work of the sebaceous and sweat glands, the secretion of which is a favorable environment for bacteria.

Reasons for the formation of boils

The main reasons for the formation of boils include decreased immunity or hormonal imbalance in the body. In accordance with the specific cause, a treatment plan is prescribed - with or without hormonal agents.

In a healthy body, the immune system serves as an insurmountable obstacle to the causative agent of abscesses and is able to resist dangerous bacteria, preventing them from entering the tissues and hair follicles from the surface of the skin. After a decrease in the body’s protective functions, the immune system ceases to intensively fight pathogens, and often completely stops perceiving them as a threat and makes no attempt to destroy Staphylococcus aureus. This behavior of the body is observed after a recent viral infection, which seriously affected the immune system. Long-term use of psychotropic drugs, local hypothermia or hypothermia also cause a decrease in immunity.

If the appearance of a boil is associated with hormones, then it is often related to complications of diabetes. When blood circulation is impaired, tissues do not receive sufficient nutrition, which leads to a decrease in the protective activity of the skin. As a result, the causative agent of the disease can easily enter the hair follicle and start the inflammatory process.

Under the professional supervision of a doctor, a boil can be completely cured.

When to contact a surgeon

Boils can be treated at home only for those who are not at risk (do not suffer from chronic diseases), and boils are small in size (up to 5 mm). You should not self-medicate in the following cases:

• if the appearance of a formation is accompanied by intense pain and fever;
• if the abscess has not opened within 2 weeks;
• if furunculosis has developed;
• if the abscess occurs in a small child;
• if the boil is near the nose, lips, in the ear canal;
• there was a relapse of the disease.

Stages of boil development

This disease has three stages of development. Please note: you should consult a doctor at the initial stage of boil formation.

1. Infiltration stage, i.e. accumulation of fluid in tissues. At this stage, the abscess is just beginning to form. The infiltrate is concentrated near the hair follicle, where the staphylococcus has entered. Swelling and hardening of tissues occurs. The size of the reddened area of ​​inflammation is 1-3 cm in diameter. Often the patient complains of a tingling sensation at the site of inflammation, which becomes stronger when touched. At first the pain is not strong, but gradually becomes more pronounced.
2. Stage of purulent-necrotic process. It begins on the third or fourth day from the moment of inflammation. In the middle of the boil, a core is formed, consisting of dead cells and thick purulent masses. From above, the rod appears above the skin and looks like a white abscess. When the tension of the skin over the rod becomes too intense, it diverges and purulent accumulations come out, then the furuncle cavity is completely cleared.
3. Healing stage. After the wound heals, there will be no scar left from a small boil. After a large boil, there is a slight even scar, which should disappear over time.

Complications of the disease often develop at the second stage, when problems arise with the release of purulent-necrotic fluid. An attempt to remove a boil by squeezing can also have serious consequences.

Classification of panaritiums

Taking into account the location and nature of the affected tissues, the following types of panaritium are distinguished:

• Cutaneous panaritium is the mildest form: an abscess forms in the thickness of the skin.
• Periungual panaritium (paronychia) - inflammation is localized in the area of ​​the periungual fold.
• Subungual felon - develops under the nail plate.
• Subcutaneous felon - occurs in the subcutaneous tissue of the palmar surface of the fingers.
• Bone panaritium - a distinctive feature is the involvement of bone in the purulent process.
• Articular felon - develops in the interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints.
• Osteoarticular felon - usually occurs with the progression of articular felon, when inflammation spreads to the articular ends of the phalangeal bones.
• Tendon felon - localized in the tendon area.

Methods for treating boils

There are two treatment methods: drug therapy and surgery. Specific tactics depend on the stage and severity of the disease.

Drug therapy

Treatment with various medications is suitable if you seek help in a timely manner. Local therapy is generally required; broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in rare cases.

At the first stage of the disease, the inflamed area is cauterized with a pharmaceutical solution of iodine several times a day and dry heat is applied to it. The use of compresses is strictly prohibited, as this can lead to a severe deterioration in the patient's condition.

When the formation of the boil core begins, to speed up the process, bandages with ichthyol ointment should be applied to the abscess. This medicine helps to draw out purulent masses and reduce the duration of tissue restoration in the future. It is necessary to treat a boil with medication after mandatory consultation with a doctor.

During the healing stage, bandages with ointments containing an antibiotic are applied to the inflamed area, as well as drugs that significantly accelerate the tissue healing process. In case of severe suppuration of the boil, immediately after the rod comes out, a special drainage can be placed and the recesses can be washed with antiseptic agents.

It is impossible to cure the disease entirely and for a long period with the help of folk remedies.

Surgery

Removal of a boil by surgical intervention is permissible only in advanced cases: when there is already an abscess or there is a high probability of developing complications of the disease. The method helps to immediately improve the patient's condition. In such a situation, it is important to remove the purulent-necrotic core of the boil as soon as possible and carry out antiseptic treatment of the tissue. All actions are carried out under local anesthesia, often on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is only necessary for a large abscess or serious subcutaneous abscess that requires regular medical monitoring.

How are gums treated?

Periodontitis therapy begins with the removal of plaque and tartar.
The use of local remedies relieves the problem only for a short period of time. The latent course of the inflammatory process continues, leading to an increase in the depth of periodontal pockets and increased destruction of the bone tissue adjacent to the element. An abscess in the mouth is a source of infection. The surgeon must open it up and remove the pus from under the tooth in the gum without pain. Infiltration anesthesia is used. The resulting wound is treated with antiseptic solutions. Drainage is used to prevent premature overgrowing and ensure the flow of contents.

Therapy in dentistry

Depending on the severity of the condition, drug or surgical treatment is chosen.

Conservative technique is a long and labor-intensive process consisting of several stages:

1. Survey. The dentist studies the patient’s medical history and finds out when and under what circumstances a purulent formation appeared on the gum. It is important to know how quickly the pathology progressed.
2. Clinical examination. The location, shape and color of the abscess are studied. If necessary, X-ray diagnostics of the diseased part of the jaw is performed. An image is required for an objective assessment of the state of the structure of internal tissues. The further method is chosen depending on the severity of the case.
3. Disinfection of the oral cavity. Thorough removal of food debris, plaque and tartar. Antiseptics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
4. Treatment of purulent gums by creating an outflow of contents from the abscess. The medical procedure is performed at the Dentika clinic under local anesthesia. The surgeon carefully dissects the affected area and installs a drain into the created incision to cleanse the cavity of infected fluid.

Long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs is required. To prevent re-formation of the infiltration site, antibiotics and local antiseptic rinses are prescribed.

Some patients are bothered by excruciating toothache and complaints that pus is released when pressing on the gums while chewing. At the same time, there is no lump on the jaw. In this situation, the scheme described above will be ineffective. Surgery is required. If there is a filling, the surgeon carefully removes it and cleans the canals, washing out purulent accumulations. A small area of ​​inflammation allows for filling.

If a granuloma or cyst is present, a temporary filling is placed for 3 months. At the end of the specified period, an x-ray is taken. If positive dynamics are observed, filling and crown installation are performed.

Additional procedures

A qualified dentist will tell you how to treat your gums if a purulent sac bursts and pus appears, and will give recommendations for further care of your teeth and oral cavity. To increase the effectiveness of conservative therapy, most doctors prescribe a course of physiotherapeutic procedures: electrophoresis, ultrasound and laser techniques. After passing, positive dynamics are noticeable. If all medical recommendations are followed, there is a decrease in discomfort and swelling, and a general improvement in well-being.

Recovery

Many patients are wary of going to the dentist and wonder whether treatment for purulent gums can be painless. Dental invasive interventions are performed under anesthesia without discomfort for the patient. Despite this, opening and draining an abscess is additional stress for the body. To speed up healing, you should follow the recommendations:

1. Follow medical instructions.
2. Take prescribed medications.
3. Protect yourself from stress.
4. Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
5. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
6. Perform daily hygiene procedures.
7. Use irrigator, floss and dental rinse.

Compliance with the recommendations contributes to accelerated recovery and prevention of relapses.