Carbuncles are clusters of boils, which form due to inflammation in the root of the hair, which can produce abscesses, wounds and ulcers on the skin. Its treatment is done with drainage of accumulated pus, when it bursts by itself, or by a procedure performed by the dermatologist or general surgeon, in addition to the use of antibiotic ointments and skin cleansing with antiseptic soap.
This disease is also known as Anthrax, but is different from Anthrax used as a biological weapon because it is usually caused by the excess bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which lives naturally on the skin. Learn more about the disease Antraz, caused by the bacterium Bacilos anthracis, which is used as a biological weapon.
How is the treatment done?
To treat anthrax, you should initially keep your skin clean, with the use of antibacterial liquid soap, chlorhexidine or potassium permanganate solution, to prevent bacteria from the skin from forming new lesions.
However, it is also necessary to remove the pus that is accumulated inside the carbuncle. To do this, warm water packs should be placed over the area for 5 to 10 minutes, 2-3 times a day, to allow pus to escape through the skin. Another option is to go to the dermatologist or general practitioner to remove the pus with a small surgical procedure.
In addition, it may be necessary to use anti-inflammatory or analgesics in tablet, such as ibuprofen or dipyrone, for example, for relieving pain and fever. In some cases, the general practitioner may also prescribe antibiotics in tablet form, such as cephalexin, especially when the infection is too deep or the fever does not improve.
How carbuncle is formed
The inflammation of the hair follicle, together with infection by bacteria of the skin, can give rise to the boil, which is a yellowish and reddish lump that fills with pus and is quite painful. Carbuncle is formed when there are several boils, which attach through inflamed tissue, and reach deeper layers of the skin, which can cause symptoms such as fever, malaise and pain in the body.
Because it is a more serious infection than the boil, the carbuncle evolves and heals more slowly than the isolated boil, lasting about 2 weeks.
The most common location is at the nape of the neck, shoulders, back and thighs, and may occur more often in elderly people or with weakened immune system due to malnutrition, for example.
