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Boils


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Key points to remember about boils

  • a boil is a tender red lump on the skin
  • it is caused by an infection of the hair root or sweat pore
  • most children with boils are otherwise healthy
  • boils are not usually a serious problem
  • there is a small chance of your child becoming sicker if the infection spreads – if this happens you should take your child to your GP (general practitioner)
  • signs of infection spread include:
    – a fever
    – extending redness and increasing pain at the site of the boil

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What are boils?

  • a boil (also called a furuncle) is a tender, red lump on the skin
  • boils are not usually a serious problem – the body's defences are usually able to get rid of the bacteria
  • sometimes the boils may spread to other parts of the body; a group of boils close together is called a carbuncle
  • large boils are sometimes called abscesses
  • the most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks (bottom)

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What causes boils?

Boils can develop when a hair root or sweat pore becomes infected with bacteria (usually Staphylococcus aureus).
 

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What puts my child at risk of getting boils?

Anyone can develop a boil.
 
Most children with boils are otherwise healthy. 
 
Some of the following problems can increase the risk of your child getting boils:
A variety of other factors have been suggested as increasing the risk of boils but these are not supported by any evidence.
 
Some medicines can reduce the body’s defence system against germs (bacteria). For this reason, it is important for you to be aware of the side effects of any medicine that your child is taking.
 

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What are the signs and symptoms of boils?

  • a hard red lump on your child’s skin
  • increasing size and soreness of the lump
  • development of a white or yellow centre in the lump, filled with pus, which may or may not burst

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When should I seek help?

You should see your GP (general practitioner) if:

  • the boil does not form a head or point or does not get better within two days
  • your child is complaining of lots of pain or discomfort
  • your child develops a temperature
  • the boil has red streaks coming from it
  • the boil is the size of a five cent coin or larger
  • the boil keeps getting bigger
  • there are several boils
  • your child has diabetes or an immune problem

You should see your GP urgently if:

  • there is any sore or redness near your child’s eye

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What treatments are available if my child’s boil gets worse?

Antibiotics

  • your doctor may prescribe an anti-infective cream for you to put over the boil
  • if there are several boils, or they are large and painful, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics
  • sometimes the antibiotics may not completely work, and incision (a cut) and drainage of the boil is required to release the pus

Incision and drainage

  • your doctor may refer your child to a surgeon at the hospital to have this procedure performed – it is usually performed under general anaesthetic because it is painful
  • the surgeon will lance (pierce) the abscess and remove the pus
  • a sterile dressing will be placed over the cut to absorb any draining pus
  • your child may need antibiotics given through an intravenous drip (into a vein)
  • once the operation is finished, your child will usually not need to stay in hospital
  • your child’s dressings may need changing by outreach / homecare nurses or your GP’s (general practitioner’s) nurse
  • remember to keep the dressing dry

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How can I care for my child with a boil at home?

  • most boils, especially if noticed early, can be treated at home
  • wash your child with warm soapy water – you can also apply an antiseptic cream to the affected area
  • if the boil bursts, wash and dry the area well and then cover it – this stops it from spreading and stops your child from scratching it
  • your child must have their own towel and facecloth which must be washed frequently in hot water along with any clothing worn close to the skin
  • do not squeeze the boil as it is painful and can force infection into the deeper tissues
  • give your child paracetamol, if needed, to help with the soreness. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose
Remember, you will need to keep an eye on the boil. If other boils appear or the boil gets bigger or more painful, you need to take your child to your GP (general practitioner). See When should I seek help?
 

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Are there likely to be any complications of boils?

Normally, there are no problems.
 
There is a small chance of your child becoming sicker if the infection spreads. Signs include:
  • a fever
  • extending redness and increasing pain at the site of the boil
If this happens, seek advice from your GP (general practitioner).
 

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What if my child keeps getting boils (recurrent boils)?

Sometimes children can suffer from recurrent boils, which can spread to other household members. This is usually due to the child carrying a strain of bacteria that easily causes infection of any broken skin (minor cuts and scrapes).
 
Your GP (general practitioner) may take a swab of the boil and may need to consider whether your child has an underlying medical condition.
 
Treatment is aimed at ridding the skin of bacteria. This may include strategies such as:
  • using an antiseptic wash for a week
  • washing all your child’s towels and bedding in hot water
  • applying an antibiotic cream to the nose (as that’s where the bacteria are often carried)

Other preventative measures include:

  • using an alternative antibiotic for a longer course
  • using an antiseptic cream on any minor cuts and scrapes

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Where to go for more information about boils

Dermnet NZ
The website of the New Zealand Dermatological Society has a fact sheet on boils1  and a wide range of other information on skin conditions.
 
Skin infections website
In recent years, hospitalisations for the treatment of serious skin infections have been increasing in New Zealand. This website has been created by Wellington Regional Public Health and Auckland Regional Public Health Service to inform health professionals, community workers, schools and families about the prevention and treatment of serious skin infections. The website has an easy-to-understand brief fact sheet2 which discusses cellulitis and abscesses (boils) together. It offers the following information:
  • short definitions of the two conditions
  • a comparison of symptoms of cellulitis and abscesses
  • how your child contracted this infection
  • treatment
  • what symptoms are not ok
  • what symptoms are ok
Serious skin infection prevention information3 is a detailed booklet available via this website. Produced for the Glen Innes Serious Skin Infection Prevention Project in Auckland, the booklet contains information such as:
  • plasters, sore care and when to go to the doctor
  • how to stop sores spreading in the family or at school
  • over the counter treatments for head lice, scabies and eczema
  • insect repellent
  • advice on mosquitoes and fleas
 

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Links   (these are the web addresses for the numbered links in the text above)


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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 22/06/2006

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2010


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz