Carbuncles - Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

What Is a Carbuncle?

Carbuncles are a skin condition characterized by red puffy and painful multiple boils connected to each other under the skin. A carbuncle is a boil or carbuncle on the skin that is filled with fluid. It may be caused by a bacterial infection, especially if it occurs on the face or neck. It usually occurs in a hairy skin area filled with pus (abscess).

What Are the Causes of a Carbuncle?

A carbuncle is a boil or abscess that forms on the skin. They are caused by bacteria and are usually found on the neck, back, or armpits. Carbuncles can be painful and cause swelling in these areas. It's important to see a doctor on noticing any type of boils on the body, to be sure that it does not become infected. The most common cause of carbuncles is Staphylococcus aureus, which causes boils on the skin and soft tissue. The bacteria enter the body through an open wound or fracture and produce toxins that damage blood vessels and surrounding tissue. This results in a large boil (a carbuncle) that can become infected with pus (pus contains white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria).

How Is a Carbuncle Different From Boils?

A boil is a single red, painful bump on the skin filled with fluid or pus usually one to two inches in diameter. A carbuncle is a cluster of boils connected to each other under the layer of skin. Carbuncles are much deeper than boils and have the potential to spread the infection inside the body. Carbuncles, in comparison to boils, can cause more severe complications, including sepsis and severe scarring. One should see a doctor on experiencing any of the following:

• Carbuncles or boils occurring on the face affect vision.

• Extremely painful and larger boils.

• Boils or carbuncles are associated with fever and chills.

• The increasing size of the boil.

• Persistent and nonhealing boil for over two weeks.

• Recurring boils or carbuncles.

What Are the Symptoms of Carbuncles?

Carbuncles are initially red, puffy, and painful, and infected bumps that appear on the skin. The carbuncle is filled with pus fluids (containing dead skin cells, bacteria, and white blood cells). After seven to eight days, these carbuncles rupture and ooze out the pus fluids. There are two types of carbuncles:

• Superficial Carbuncles - These have multiple openings on the skin surface and do not usually leave deep scars.

• Deep Carbuncles - These result from chronic conditions that are more likely to cause skin scarring.

Symptoms of carbuncles often include:

• Fever.

• Fatigue.

• General sickness.

• Weakness.

• Swelling in armpits, groin, and neck areas.

What Are the Complications With Carbuncles?

Carbuncles are infected boils that occur on the skin's surface. The bacteria responsible for the occurrence of carbuncles are Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These are resistant to methicillin (antibiotic) and also called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Hence, medications for carbuncles require different prescription antibiotics if the lesions are not adequately and properly drained. Bacteria from the carbuncles enter the bloodstream and can cause infections in other body parts. Complications include body sepsis (blood infection) and infection in other parts of the body, like the heart and brain. Sepsis (body infection) is a medical emergency and can be fatal. The individual may experience fever, chills, increased heart rate, and full-body weakness.

What Are the Risk Factors?

Though boils and carbuncles can affect anyone, the following risk factors may increase the risk:

• Close Contact - Close contact with someone infected with a similar infection (Staphylococcus infection).

• Diabetes - Underlying medical conditions like diabetes may increase the risk and susceptibility to carbuncles due to reduced immunity and reduced ability to fight skin infections.

• Eczema - Skin conditions like acne and eczema may increase the susceptibility to carbuncles due to compromised protective skin barrier.

• Weak Immunity - The weakened immune system makes one more prone to boils and carbuncles.

How Are Carbuncles Treated?

Carbuncles can be dangerous if not dealt with properly. The following are the first aid and preventive measures:

• Avoid Squeezing - It is crucial to avoid squeezing the carbuncle due to the risk of infection spread and sepsis in the body.

• Avoid Skin Irritants - One must be careful not to irritate the skin as it can cause a series of complications and severe scarring.

• Warm Compresses - Warm compresses may help to drain the pus and promote faster healing. One can gently soak the carbuncle in warm water several times a day or apply warm compresses over the affected area.

• Wound Coverage - Covering the carbuncle with a clean, sterile cloth may help in drainage and prevent the infection from spreading to surrounding tissues. One must keep the cuts and abrasions clean and covered with dry and sterile cloth or bandages to prevent wound infections and other complications.

• Sanitization - One must maintain proper hand hygiene while dealing with the affected skin area.

• Avoid Sharing Personal Items - Sharing personal items like towels, razor beddings, and so on can spread the bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus bacteria) via these objects. Hence it is advised to avoid sharing personal items at all costs.

Are There Any Medical Treatments Available?

Doctors may recommend antibiotic medications and drainage to cure carbuncles. The doctor may inspect the boil and medically evaluate the affected area. The carbuncle is checked for its size, tenderness, and amount of infection before chalking out a treatment plan. In severe cases, doctors may cut open the carbuncle under local anesthesia and remove the pus. The area is then washed with strike solutions to remove the remnant infection. Sometimes, the drained pus may be removed and sent for investigations to determine the cause and prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are necessary to:

• Avoid reinfection.

• Avoid the spread and reactivation of the remnant infection.

• In case the surrounding tissues are inflamed and there are signs of cellulitis.

• Boost immunity.

Depending on the condition and severity of the infection, carbuncles may take two to three weeks to get cured completely.

Conclusion:

Carbuncles are infected boils that appear on the skin (especially in the region of hair follicles) and can potentially cause severe complications and sepsis. Hence, it is important to seek medical and professional help in noticing any signs and symptoms of boils and carbuncles. Prevention includes hand sanitization, wound coverage, and avoiding the use of shared personal items. Doctors usually prescribe medications and recommend surgery as a treatment to cure carbuncles.