Boils (abscesses)

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An overview of boils (abscesses) including the symptoms, treatments and treatment options.

Key points

A boil (abscess) is a painful, red swelling of the skin with a white or yellow tip at the centre.
If your child's boil is very painful or large, or if your child has fever, take them to a health-care provider.
Treatment includes warm compresses and sometimes antibiotics.
Occasionally the boil will need to be drained to help the infection heal.

Introduction

What is a boil?

A boil is an inflamed, painful swelling of the skin, caused by bacteria. Boils can occur anywhere on the body. They often occur in damp areas such as in the armpit and groin, and at the back of the neck. They sometimes occur in lymph nodes, often in the armpit, groin or neck.

Boils are sometimes referred to as abscesses.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of boils

A boil usually starts as a small red bump or pimple, surrounded by red skin. The area of the skin may be itchy or mildly painful. Soon, the skin becomes red and swells as it fills with pus. The main symptoms include:

tender skin around the lump
a white or yellow tip, or "head", may appear at the centre of the boil

The boil may burst. Blood, pus or an amber-coloured liquid will drain out.

Causes, risk factors and prevalence

Causes of boils

Boils can occur when a hair follicle becomes infected by bacteria. This infection is called folliculitis. The infection often occurs where there is friction or irritation, such as shaving or scratching. Boils occur when a bacterial infection spreads to the deeper tissue under the skin and in the oil-producing glands. Some types of bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are more likely than others to cause boils.

Treatment

Treatment of boils

Most of the time you can treat your child's boil at home. Soak the boil in a warm bath or apply a heating pad or a towel soaked in warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes. This will relieve the swelling and your child's pain.

Make sure to clean any towels or cloths after each use. Bacteria that cause boils can spread easily. If the boil bursts, wipe away the pus or blood with a clean cotton ball soaked in antiseptic solution.

Encourage your child not to squeeze or poke the boil. This can spread the infection or cause scarring. It may help to cut your child's nails very short.

If the boil is painful, is getting larger, is accompanied by fever or if it lasts longer than 2 weeks, assessment by a health-care provider is recommended. In some cases, the boil may need to be surgically drained. This means your child's health-care provider will make a small cut in the boil to help release the pus. Sometimes oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) are also prescribed to help clear the infection.

When to seek medical attention

When to see a health-care provider

See your child’s health-care provider if:

the boil lasts longer than two weeks
it is very painful or large
your child seems unwell with a fever
your child has recurring boils

Last updated: January 28th 2024