By a carbuncle, physicians mean a deep and usually very painful suppuration of several hair follicles that grow together to form a purulent knot. In most cases, a bacterial infection is responsible for the inflammation. Carbuncles must necessarily be treated by a doctor to prevent the spread of bacteria.
What is a carbuncle?
A carbuncle is a painful pus-filled adhesion of several adjacent hair follicles. Hair follicles consist of the respective hair root and the sebaceous gland. If inflammation of the latter occurs, experts refer to it as a boil. Particularly in people weakened by age or disease, a growth of several boils can occur, which is called a carbuncle. A carbuncle manifests itself as a red and clearly heated swelling, later filled with pus, which is usually very painful. In principle, carbuncles can occur all over the body. However, they are particularly common on the buttocks, in the groin area, in the armpit or even in the neck.
Causes
A carbuncle and also the preceding boil are caused by a bacterial infection. In most cases, it is the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which enters the skin through a so-called smear infection. The resulting infection is a defensive reaction of the body, which wants to fight the bacteria. Certain pre-existing diseases that weaken the organism can promote the development of one or more boils and thus also carbuncles. These include AIDS, diabetes and other diseases that affect the immune system of the affected person. A lack of personal hygiene and associated clogged pores can also contribute to the development of boils or even carbuncles.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Boils initially appear as small, usually reddish and painful bumps. The bumps may appear all over the body. As the disease progresses, they fill with pus and develop weeping or crusting growths. Over the course of a few days, the carbuncles increase in size and spread to adjacent regions of the body. Eventually, the boils break open and a thick, usually white or reddish fluid emerges. Superficial carbuncles are at risk of forming a scar. Deep-seated growths can leave large skin lesions and are often accompanied by accompanying symptoms. For example, larger or multiple carbuncles can often lead to fever and a general feeling of malaise. Affected individuals feel ill and fatigued, and due to the pain and itching, well-being is greatly reduced. Externally, carbuncles are also manifested by swelling in the surrounding tissue. In most cases, the lymph nodes of the neck, groin or armpit are also affected by swelling. If no treatment is given, the boil can cause further complications. In the worst case, blood poisoning or neurological symptoms occur, always depending on the body regions to which the pathogens are carried.
Diagnosis and course
A carbuncle can usually be diagnosed by the attending physician simply by looking at the purulent swelling and talking in detail with the patient. In addition, a swab may be taken to determine the exact pathogen. Palpation of the skin and lymph nodes can help determine the degree of spread of the inflammation. A boil or carbuncle should always be treated by a doctor, as without appropriate therapy it can lead to infection of the lymph vessels or even blood poisoning. If boils and carbuncles occur on the face, the bacteria can migrate to the brain and cause thrombosis, acutely endangering the patient’s life.
Complications
A carbuncle must always be examined and treated by a physician. If treatment is not received, the bacteria can spread to other regions of the body. Furthermore, in the worst case, it can also lead to blood poisoning. Without treatment, this usually leads to the death of the patient and can significantly reduce life expectancy. The bacteria can also spread to the brain and lead to paralysis or other neurological symptoms. These can result in further restrictions in the patient’s daily life.The carbuncle does not need to be treated in many cases if it is relatively small and heals on its own. If it does not heal on its own, antibiotics and other medications may also be used to relieve the discomfort. Likewise, the affected person is usually confined to bed rest and suffers from decreased exercise tolerance. Often, increased personal hygiene is also necessary to prevent the carbuncle from forming again. Life expectancy is not reduced with proper treatment, and no particular complications continue to occur.
When should you go to the doctor?
If a painful skin change is noticed, a doctor should be consulted in any case. Inflammation, bleeding or circulatory problems require a quick examination by the family doctor. Neurological symptoms indicate that the pathogens have already spread to the brain and should therefore be clarified quickly. The affected person should also consult a doctor if the complaints rapidly increase in intensity or if other unusual symptoms occur. In the case of an abscess on the face, a doctor should always be consulted as a precaution. If other symptoms occur, such as fever or chills, medical advice is also required. If a reddish streak runs from the abscess towards the heart, there may be blood poisoning. Again, the affected person must immediately visit a doctor’s office or hospital. Children should be taken to a pediatrician with a hair follicle. A few days after removal of the carbuncle, a doctor should perform a follow-up examination. The appropriate doctor is the dermatologist or a general practitioner.
Treatment and therapy
If an occurring purulent swelling is a furuncle or even a carbuncle, the patient should in no case tamper with it himself. Squeezing, for example, can cause the pathogens to spread further and the condition to worsen significantly. Small boils often heal on their own. A carbuncle, on the other hand, should always be treated by a doctor to prevent complications. If the swellings are particularly large or deep, the attending physician may decide to open the carbuncle surgically, for example. This involves draining the pus and disinfecting the pus cavity to prevent the infection from spreading again. Additionally, antibiotics may help fight the bacteria responsible. If surgical opening is not necessary, antibiotics and a so-called traction ointment alone can be used for treatment. Moist compresses can also be helpful, as can wearing light and loose clothing. In the case of abscesses on the face, treatment is usually limited to medication; the patient must then remain on bed rest to prevent the bacteria from migrating to the brain. If boils and carbuncles occur repeatedly, the physician will examine the patient more closely to determine the cause of the infections.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis is favorable for a carbuncle. If the affected person seeks medical treatment, medical care will initiate a fight against the pathogens. By administering medication, the bacteria present are fought and relief from the symptoms occurs. In most cases, no further visit to the doctor is necessary, so that the patient is completely free of symptoms within a few days or weeks. If unforeseeable complications occur due to certain active ingredients of the prescribed preparations, the treatment plan must be optimized. Various preparations are available to the physician and can be interchanged. Delays in healing are possible, but in most cases freedom from symptoms is still achieved. Without the use of medical assistance, the spread of pathogens in the organism is to be expected. In most cases, the functional activity of the body’s own defense system is not sufficient to defend itself sufficiently against a proliferation of the bacteria. Complaints increase and the general state of health of the affected person deteriorates. Although the prognosis for a carbuncle is favorable, the symptoms may recur at any time during life. If medical care is sought as soon as possible, the prognosis can be described as favorable even if the symptoms recur.
Prevention
The development of a carbuncle can be prevented in many cases by strict personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. However, if boils nevertheless develop, for example due to a weakened immune system, they should definitely be treated appropriately to prevent the formation of a painful and possibly dangerous carbuncle. Therefore, boils should always be examined by a doctor, even if they initially appear harmless to the person affected. This also applies in particular to abscesses occurring on the face.
Aftercare
The purpose of follow-up care is to ensure that the new formation of a disease is detected at an early stage. For this reason, it is used especially for cancer. Doctors hope that it will lead to better treatment options. In the context of the therapy of a carbuncle, however, this point of view does not play a role. A carbuncle can recur at any time due to an external bacterial infection, but after healing it is not causally related to the initial infection. Patients can protect themselves in everyday life with self-responsible follow-up measures. These include avoiding nicotine consumption and maintaining adequate hygiene. The attending physician will provide information about possible protective measures during the initial treatment. Furthermore, aftercare aims to provide everyday support so that patients can lead a life that is as free of symptoms as possible. The treatment of a carbuncle sometimes leaves scars. If these remain in a visible place, they can be a psychological burden. Psychotherapy can then boost self-confidence as part of aftercare. Complications and irreparable damage usually result if carbuncles were treated late. Blood poisoning transports the pathogens to other parts of the body. Neurological disorders and altered brain activity may require lifelong permanent treatment. Appropriate therapies depend on the symptoms and are agreed upon individually. Assistive devices and medications may need to be used.
What you can do yourself
A carbuncle does not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. Usually, the bump will heal on its own after a few days if it is washed and kept clean regularly. This involves boiling towels, rags or clothing after contact with the growth. Physical contact with other people should be avoided temporarily. Healing can be supported by various home remedies and measures. Warm compresses applied to the carbuncle two to three times a day for 20 minutes each time have proven effective. Honey relieves itching and can also be applied in the form of a compress or as a classic ointment. In general, measures that strengthen the immune system also help: regular exercise, a change in diet or intestinal cleansing. An effective homeopathic remedy is belladonna. Ointments and gels with arnica help against swelling, while pain is best treated with hepar sulfuris. After the boil has opened, the healing process can be supported by St. John’s wort. If the carbuncle has not disappeared after one to two weeks at the latest, a visit to the doctor is recommended
