Boil
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Is this your child's symptom?
- Painful red lump in the skin
- Hair follicle infection caused by the Staph bacteria
- Most boils need to be seen by a doctor
If NOT, try one of these:
Symptoms of a Boil
- Bright red lump (swelling) in the skin.
- Painful, even when not being touched.
- Most often ½ to 1 inch across (1 to 2 cm).
- After about a week, the center of the boil becomes filled with pus. The center becomes soft and mushy.
- The skin over the boil then develops a large pimple. This is known as "coming to a head."
Causes of Boils
- A boil is an infection of a hair follicle (skin pore).
- Boils are caused by the Staph bacteria.
- Friction from tight clothing is a risk factor. Common sites are the groin, armpit, buttock, thigh or waist.
- Shaving is also a risk factor. Common sites are the face, legs, armpits or pubic area.
Prevention of Boils
- Washing hands is key to preventing Staph skin infections. Have everyone in the home wash their hands often. Use a liquid antibacterial soap or alcohol hand sanitizer. Have everyone shower daily. Showers are best, because baths still leave many Staph bacteria on the skin.
- Avoid nose picking. 30% of people have Staph bacteria in their nose.
- When shaving anywhere on the body, never try to shave too close. Reason: It causes small cuts that allow Staph bacteria to enter the skin.
Prevention - Bleach Baths for Boils that Come Back.- Some doctors suggest bleach baths to prevent boils from coming back. Talk with your doctor about this treatment.
- Use ½ cup (120 mL) of regular bleach per 1 full bathtub of water.
- Soak for 10 minutes twice weekly.
- This mix of bleach and water is like a swimming pool.
When to Call for Boil
When to Call for Boil
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now- Widespread red rash
- Fever
- Boil on the face
- Age less than 1 month old (newborn) with a boil
- Weak immune system. Examples are sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours- Age less than 1 year old with a boil
- Spreading redness around the boil
- There are 2 or more boils
- Size is larger than 2 inches (5 cm) across
- Center of the boil is soft or pus-colored. Exception: a common pimple.
- Boil is draining pus
- You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours- Boil suspected (red lump larger than ½ inch or 12 mm across). Reason: confirm your child does have a boil. Note: see home care advice for boil treatment.
- Using antibiotic ointment more than 3 days for small red lump, but not improved
- Boils keep coming back in your family
- You have other questions or concerns
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Self Care at Home- Boil diagnosed by a doctor
- Possible boil not yet seen by a doctor: painful red lump larger than ½ inch (12 mm) across
- Possible early boil or minor skin infection: tender red lump smaller than ½ inch (12 mm) across. Note: see home care advice for small red lump.
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Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Widespread red rash
- Fever
- Boil on the face
- Age less than 1 month old (newborn) with a boil
- Weak immune system. Examples are sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Age less than 1 year old with a boil
- Spreading redness around the boil
- There are 2 or more boils
- Size is larger than 2 inches (5 cm) across
- Center of the boil is soft or pus-colored. Exception: a common pimple.
- Boil is draining pus
- You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Boil suspected (red lump larger than ½ inch or 12 mm across). Reason: confirm your child does have a boil. Note: see home care advice for boil treatment.
- Using antibiotic ointment more than 3 days for small red lump, but not improved
- Boils keep coming back in your family
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Boil diagnosed by a doctor
- Possible boil not yet seen by a doctor: painful red lump larger than ½ inch (12 mm) across
- Possible early boil or minor skin infection: tender red lump smaller than ½ inch (12 mm) across. Note: see home care advice for small red lump.
Care Advice
Treatment for a Boil (painful red lump larger than ½ inch or 12 mm across)
- What You Should Know About Boils:
- A boil is a Staph infection of a hair follicle.
- It is not a serious infection.
- Boils should be seen by a doctor for treatment.
- The doctor can tell if it needs to be drained and when to do it.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
- Moist Heat:
- Heat can help bring the boil "to a head," so it can be drained.
- Apply a warm, wet washcloth to the boil. Do this for 15 minutes 3 times a day.
- Pain Medicine:
- Until it drains, all boils are painful.
- To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Use as needed.
- Opening the Boil - Done Only by a Doctor:
- The main treatment of boils is to open them and drain the pus.
- Then, boils will usually heal on their own.
- Draining the boil must always be done in a medical setting.
- Caution - Do Not Squeeze:
- Do not squeeze a boil or try to open a boil yourself.
- Reason: this can force bacteria into the bloodstream or cause more boils.
- Squeezing a boil on the face can be very harmful.
- Antibiotics By Mouth:
- Antibiotics may or may not be helpful. Your doctor will decide.
- If prescribed, take the antibiotic as directed.
- Pus Precautions:
- Pus or other drainage from an open boil contains lots of Staph bacteria.
- Once a boil is opened it will drain pus for 3 to 4 days. Then it will slowly heal up.
- Cover all draining boils with a clean, dry bandage. A gauze pad and tape work well.
- Change the bandage twice daily.
- Clean the skin around the boil with an antibacterial soap each time.
- Carefully throw the bandage away in the regular trash.
- Wash your hands well after any contact with the boil, drainage or the bandage.
- What to Expect:
- Without treatment, the body will slowly wall off the Staph infection.
- After about a week, the center of the boil will fill with pus. It will become soft.
- The skin over the boil then develops a large pimple. This is known as "coming to a head."
- The boil is now ready for draining by your doctor.
- Without draining, it will open and drain by itself in 3 or 4 days.
- Return to School or Child Care:
- Closed boils cannot spread to others.
- Children with a closed boil can go to school or child care.
- The pus or drainage in open boils can spread infection to others.
- For open boils, the drainage needs to be fully covered with a dry bandage. If not, stay home until it heals up (most often 1 week).
- Return to Sports:
- Children with a closed boil may be able to play sports.
- Children with an open boil cannot return to contact sports until drainage has stopped.
- Check with the team's trainer, if there is one.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Fever occurs
- Redness spreads beyond the boil
- Boil becomes larger than 2 inches (5 cm) across
- Boil comes to a head (soft pus-colored center)
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Treatment for a Small Tender Red Lump (less than ½ inch or 12 mm across)
- What You Should Know About a Small Tender Red Lump:
- A small red lump most often is a minor infection of a hair follicle.
- It may or may not become a boil.
- Use an antibiotic ointment to keep it from getting worse. No prescription is needed.
- Apply it to the red lump 3 times per day.
- Pain Medicine:
- If painful, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Use as needed.
- Caution - Do Not Squeeze:
- Do not squeeze skin lump. Reason: squeezing it can force bacteria into the skin.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Red lump becomes larger or bigger than ½ inch (12 mm)
- Not improved after using antibiotic ointment for 3 days
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.
Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
Copyright 2000-2023. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.