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Furunculosis

Zoltan Trizna, MD, PhD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Acute bacterial abscess of a hair follicle (often Staphylococcus aureus)

  • System(s) affected: skin/exocrine

  • Synonym(s): boils

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Incidence

  • Predominant age

    • Adolescents and young ad...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Located on hair-bearing sites, especially areas prone to friction or repeated minor traumas (e.g., underneath belt, anterior aspects of thighs, nape, buttocks)

  • No initial fever or syst...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Moist, warm compresses (provide comfort, encourage localization/pointing/drainage) 30 minutes QID

  • If pointing or large, incise and drain: Consider packing if large or incomple...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Instruct patient to see physician if compresses are unsuccessful. 

DIET

Unrestricted 

PROGNOSIS

  • Self-limited: usually drains pus spontaneously and w...

REFERENCES

1
Lin HS, Lin PT, Tsai YS, et al. Interventions for bacterial folliculitis and boils (furuncles and carbuncles). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2(2):CD013099.
2
Fritz ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Ibler  KS, Kromann  CB. Recurrent furunculosis–challenges and management: a review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.  2014;7:59–64.

  • ...

SEE ALSO

Folliculitis; Hidradenitis Suppurativa 

CODES

ICD10

  • L02.92 Furuncle, unspecified

  • L02.12 Furuncle of neck

  • L02.429 Furuncle of limb, unspecified

  • L02.32 Furuncle of buttock

  • L02.425 Furuncle of right lower limb

  • L02.422 Furuncle of left axilla

  • L02.426 ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Pathogens may be different in different localities. Keep up-to-date with the locality-specific epidemiology.

  • If few, furuncles/furunculosis do not need antibiotic treatment. If systemic...

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