Boils can be cysts or abscesses that are on the skin and create a large red and painful puss filled pocket. These boils are not typically deadly but can be extremely painful and must have medical treatment to prevent the spreading of the boils. Medical treatment can seem almost medieval in dealing with the boils, but it is a very effective method of dealing with boils and aids in a speedy recovery. In addition to the medical procedures that help cure boils, oral and topical antibiotics are often prescribed to help combat the infection which is most commonly a type of Staph infection that is not deadly.
Staph infections are the things of fear and concern in the hospitals. This is because the staph infection can be quite deadly if it enters the blood stream. This is a rare condition and is most often avoided by proper sanitation procedures before and during medical procedures. Staph bacterium does live on the skin of a health individual and is not normally a problem. It is when the staph over populates an area of skin or when the bacterium enters the blood stream that staph goes from being benign to dangerous. Staph infections of the blood tend to cause illness and can be quite deadly. The overgrowth of staph bacterium on the skin can cause a boil.
There have been no cases of death or significant illness due to the occasional boil. It is only when the boils become excessive or frequent that they can be dangerous and the individual may need additional medical support. The average boil though only appears one at a time and often can be handled with simple medical techniques. These boils may reoccur but are not considered dangerous or deadly. If the boils are not treated then the infection can spread which can cause additional problems and cause the boils to go from an annoyance to a life threatening condition.
Such boils, be it caused by staph infection or other types of infection are most often handled by medical professionals in a manner called lancing. Lancing is the puncturing and draining of the infection by the use of a thin hollow needle. This needle is able to enter the boil and pull out the puss and infection that causes the boil to rise off the surface of the skin. Once the boil has been lanced, topical and oral treatment can begin with great success.
Topical and oral medications are not typically suggested before the boils are lanced because it is difficult for the medications to make it through the pocket and puss and into the infection itself. Once the puss is removed, the boil can be successfully treated with medication. In addition to medication, most doctors recommend the application of a warm, damp towel three times a day for twenty minutes at a time. This helps to keep the pores open and allow additional puss and infection to drain out of the area.
