Boils in a child: what is extremely important to know about this

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November 26, 2021

A boil in a child is not only an unpleasant occurrence, but also a rather dangerous disease. The appearance of boils indicates a deterioration in the general physical condition of the child. In addition, lack of timely medical care can lead to serious complications. That is why and for a number of other reasons, a boil in a child requires close attention and a responsible attitude of parents. Self-treatment of boils in children is excluded, since the effectiveness of the measures taken directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. Not all medical techniques and methods can be used to treat children. Contacting a pediatrician will help you avoid many problems and complications.

Reasons for appearance

The reasons for the appearance of boils on the body in children are very different. Doctors identify several common causes of this pathology. In order for boils to occur in a child, the reasons may be as follows:

metabolic disorders;
endocrine disorders;
frequent colds and ARVI;
weakened immunity;
malnutrition;
violation of personal hygiene rules;
lack of fresh air;
overheating or hypothermia.

Doctors divide the causes into external and internal. External reasons include:

untreated wounds or cuts on the body;
dirt on hands and body;
allergic reactions with rashes;
clogged pores due to excessive sweating.

In order to avoid the appearance of boils for external reasons, it is enough to maintain hygiene and treat scratches in a timely manner.

The answer to the question of why a child has boils is more difficult to give if the reasons are internal. Internal reasons include:

low hemoglobin level;
frequent stress and problems with the nervous system;
metabolic disorders;
weakened immunity;
frequent illnesses (for example, a boil on a child’s abdomen may appear after a serious illness);
diseases of the endocrine system, in particular diabetes;
mental or physical fatigue.

Boils can occur in a child, the causes of which are very different, and can occur at any time, regardless of the external temperature and time of year. Boils can also be caused by a lack of vitamins, skin damage from friction, diseases of the digestive system, and frequent hypothermia.

Experienced doctors at the Pediatric Department of JSC Medicine (academician Roitberg’s clinic) in Moscow will help you accurately determine the cause of the disease. Our clinic’s specialists use certified safe medications and effective technologies, which is one of the conditions for the complete recovery of young patients.

Causes of boils in children

Most often, inflammation develops due to tissue damage by Staphylococcus aureus, less often the causative agent is other groups of staphylococci or streptococci. All of them are on the skin almost constantly, but in a normal state of immunity they cannot cause disease. The pathological process starts when exposed to certain unfavorable factors:

wounds, scratches on the skin;
skin diseases (eczema, atopic dermatitis);
decreased immunity due to acute respiratory viral infections, operations, injuries, exacerbation of chronic diseases);
congenital immunodeficiency conditions;
diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders (often cause the constant appearance of boils in a child);
chronic infections: tuberculosis, pyelonephritis, sinusitis, etc.

Symptoms

The most obvious symptom is the appearance of an area of inflammation with purulent contents. Symptoms depend on several factors, including the location of the boil:

a boil on a child’s hand interferes with movements and can lead to the formation of a wound;
You can notice a boil on a child’s head while washing his hair or while combing his hair;
a boil on a child’s lip is visually noticeable and interferes with speaking and eating;
a boil on the child’s bottom makes it difficult to sit;
a boil on a child’s face is visually noticeable and can cause swelling;
a boil in the child’s nose interferes with breathing and is painful;
a boil in a child’s ear can cause ear pain and hearing impairment;
a boil on a child’s knee complicates movement;
A boil on a child’s neck can cause enlarged lymph nodes.

Common symptoms of a boil are:

general malaise;
painful sensations in the area where the boil is located;
inflammation of the lymph nodes;
headache;
intoxication, nausea, vomiting;
lack of appetite, drowsiness;
dizziness.

In order for the elimination of pathology to be effective, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of the boil. Only a doctor can accurately indicate the cause after a thorough examination, so the only correct decision is to contact a pediatrician. The pediatric department of JSC "Medicine" (academician Roitberg's clinic) in Moscow offers the services of qualified pediatricians with considerable experience in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood diseases.

If symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Independent use of lotions, ointments and traditional medicine is strictly not recommended, especially squeezing pus out of a boil.

Which doctor should I contact?

Diagnosis of boils, provided they are superficial, is not difficult. It is much more difficult to correctly determine the cause of purulent inflammation. A thorough examination is carried out in the following cases:

presence of diabetes mellitus;
complications caused by pathology;
when the boil is located internally (in the ear, nose).

The diagnosis of boils and treatment of pathology at the Pediatric Department of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) in Moscow is carried out by pediatricians, who, based on the results of the examination, can refer the little patient to a dermatologist or other specialist.

When conducting a comprehensive examination, the doctor can give the patient a direction:

for a blood test;
for bacterial inoculation from the skin;
for immunodiagnostics;
for a complete blood test.

You should urgently contact the pediatric department of JSC “Medicine” (clinic of Academician Roitberg) if:

the boil is located on the child’s face or in the spine;
the child feels unwell, the temperature has risen;
When the size of the boil is from 3 to 10 cm, the abscess does not burst.

Danger of boils

Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner can lead to dire consequences, since this pathology belongs to the category of dangerous diseases:

a boil on a child’s head can cause meningitis;
a boil on a child’s lip can cause inflammation of the nerves of the nasolabial triangle;
a boil on the child’s bottom makes it difficult to sit;
a boil on a child’s face can lead to meningitis;
a boil in a child’s nose can cause inflammation of the respiratory system;
a boil in a child’s ear can cause inflammation of the hearing organ;
A boil on a child’s neck can lead to inflammation of the lymph nodes and severe intoxication.

In the absence of timely medical care, a carbuncle, which is a collection of boils, may develop. Possible consequences are also:

infection of the deep layers of skin tissue;
scar formation after healing;
sepsis.

The appearance of multiple boils causes discomfort in the child, increased temperature, and deterioration of well-being.

The consequences of the formation of a boil can be prevented if you promptly contact the pediatric department of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of Academician Roitberg), which offers the services of qualified experienced specialists in various fields of medicine.

Our clinic is located in the center of Moscow at the address: 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskaya lane, 10, a five-minute walk from the Mayakovskaya metro station.

Treatment

If a boil appears in a child, treatment should be started immediately. Based on the examination and examination of a small patient and taking an anamnesis, the doctor will draw up an effective treatment program. Consultation with a pediatrician is required if internal boils are present. If a boil on a child’s leg does not cause any particular concern, then treatment can be medicinal, using antiseptic and painkillers.

Modern techniques include the use of local ultraviolet irradiation. The pediatrician of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) can also prescribe physical therapy (UHF therapy, electrophoresis with antimicrobial drugs).

Drug treatment

When a boil is diagnosed in children, treatment is prescribed taking into account the stage of the disease and the level of immunity. Antibiotics may be prescribed under the following conditions:

a carbuncle has formed;
high temperature rose;
a boil has formed on the face;
the infection has penetrated into the deep layers of the skin;
there is severe pain.

Medicines are prescribed exclusively by a doctor based on the results of the examination.

Surgery

Surgical treatment of pathology is rarely used under local anesthesia. If the boil in children, the treatment of which is selected individually, does not rupture on its own, the surgeon pierces it with a sterile needle or makes a small incision through which the pus is removed.

Treatment of boils in children

If the child’s boil is small in size and is not located on the face, neck or knee, treatment at home is allowed. In case of extensive lesions or multiple purulent foci, hospitalization is required.

With a relatively mild course of the disease, conservative treatment is sufficient, which depends on the stage of development of the disease:

at the initial stage, alcohol solutions and dry heat are used to accelerate ripening;
at the necrotic stage, antibacterial agents, proteolytic drugs and regular wound washing are necessary;
at the healing stage, agents are used that accelerate regeneration in combination with antibacterial treatment.

In more severe cases, local treatment is supplemented with systemic drugs: antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunostimulants, etc. If the infection spreads to adjacent tissues with the development of abscesses or phlegmons, surgical assistance is required: opening and draining the abscess.

Consultations with other specialists

Contacting specialists in various fields of medicine is necessary, since boils of bacterial origin (staphylococcus) can provoke:

formation of a focus of chronic infection (sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis);
diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis, etc.).

The formation of boils may indicate a urinary tract infection, iron deficiency anemia, immune diseases, or the presence of a latent infection (herpes, cytomegalovirus infection).

How to make an appointment with a doctor

The pediatric department of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberg) in Moscow offers European-level services for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of boils in children. To receive highly qualified medical care, you must make an appointment with a pediatrician who will conduct an examination and comprehensive medical examination of the child. If necessary, the pediatrician will consult with or refer other specialists.

To make an appointment with a specialist in the pediatric department of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberg), use one of the following methods:

quick registration form on the website;
by telephone 24/7;
using a mobile application.

Our clinic is located in the center of Moscow at the address: 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskaya lane, 10, a five-minute walk from the Mayakovskaya metro station, as well as not far from the Belorusskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya and Novoslobodskaya metro stations.

Prognosis and prevention

Single boils that occur without complications completely disappear within 2-3 weeks.
With relatively frequent relapses (exacerbations once a year or more often), the likelihood of complications is much higher. In this case, regular monitoring, immunostimulating procedures, and treatment of underlying diseases are required. Prevention of the development of boils in children includes careful skin care, regular hardening and strengthening of the immune system, timely treatment of acute and chronic diseases.

A boil is not just a pimple. An abscess can cause severe complications, including sepsis and meningitis, which is why any such formation on the body of a child or teenager requires careful monitoring. The specialists of the SM-Doctor clinic will select the optimal method of treating and preventing this problem.