Synonyms in a broader sense
“Huge pimple on the nose”
Definition
A nasal furuncle is a bacterial infection of a hair root (hair follicle) at the entrance of the nose. A danger exists when the pus that develops melts into the surrounding tissue.
Dosage form
Nasal furuncles are usually treated with antibiotics. These can be administered orally, i.e. in tablet form, applied as an ointment or injected directly into the blood. Since the most frequent pathogen of the nasal furuncle is the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotics are given, which help exactly against this pathogen.
This includes almost all types of penicillin. Whether the antibiotic is given directly into the vein, in tablet form or as an ointment depends on the size and location of the furuncle. For small boils, an antibiotic ointment is usually sufficient; for larger boils it may be necessary to take tablets or to administer the antibiotic directly into the body through the vein.
If it is necessary to administer the antibiotic directly into the vein, an inpatient stay in hospital is usually necessary. In the case of boils, so-called “pulling ointments” are primarily used for treatment. These promote blood circulation, have a pain-relieving effect and reduce the flow of sebum, which is involved in the development of the furuncle.
In addition, the ointment has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. If there is already a persistent inflammation of the hair follicle, simple household remedies and pulling ointments are often not sufficient. The majority of nasal furuncles are caused by bacterial infections, often by Staphylococcus aureus, which is located on the skin and only in some cases causes an inflammation of the hair follicle.
In these cases, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment. This is often mixed with a penicillin (e.g. Flucoxacillin), clindamycin or a tetracycline. These are antibiotics that are effective against a whole range of bacteria and cover staphylococci in particular.
The antibiotic ointment acts only locally and stops the bacteria. Thus it prevents the expansion of the inflammation and promotes healing. If a larger area is already affected by the inflammation or if additional symptoms such as fever occur, systemic antibiotic administration must be carried out via tablets or directly via the vein.
