Medicine

1. FURUNCLE
Definition
Is an abscess or infection of a single hair
follicle usually secondary to Staphylococcus
aureus.
Can occur as a single lesion or multiple
lesions with pus and nodules.

2. FURUNCLE
Incidence
It is a relatively common infection with increased
incidences seen in those patients with:
 Diabetes mellitus
 HIV infection/AIDS
 Prolonged steroid therapy or cytotoxic drug
therapy
 Other immunosuppressive diseases

3. FURUNCLE
Predisposing Factors
 Furunculitis is predisposed by greasy
applications on the skin surface leading to
obstruction of the hair follicle trapping
staphylococcus organisms in the follicle
whence it multiplies.

4. FURUNCLE
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous fat
Furuncle
Hair shaft in follicle
Nodular-Pustule

5. FURUNCLE
Clinical features
 There may be a history of preceding
trauma, surgery or predisposing disease
like Diabetes mellitus, HIV, steroid or
cytotoxic therapy, etc or recurrent lesions.
 Initial lesion often begins as a red painful
nodular swelling with a central punctum
[hole on the top].

6. FURUNCLE
 It may become more fluctuant with time
and has associated pain.
 On examination, you may see clear pus
on top of the lesion pointing out.
 The lesion is a dome shaped nodule with
surrounding erythematous base.


12. FURUNCLE
 The patient may have regional lymphadenitis
but fever is rare.
Sites: the common sites are on the axilla
region, but can occur anywhere on the body
except palms and sole.

13. FURUNCLE
Diagnosis
 Is usually made clinically: from history and
examination findings.
 confirmed by culture of purulent material
obtained from incision and drainage.

14. FURUNCLE
Differential diagnosis
 Acne
 Hidadenitis suppuritiva
 Dermal cysts

15. FURUNCLE
Treatment
 Incision and drainage is the mainstay of treatment
 Or alternatively aspirate with a wide bore needle
and syringe removing as much pus as possible.
 Cover the patient with antibiotics as appropriate
e.g. Flucloxacillin, erythromycin, floxapen,
ciprofloxacin etc.

16. FURUNCLE
Course
 If untreated pus will point out on the surface
and the lesion will burst spontaneously and
discharge or drain out.
 It will heal slowly leaving a scar tissue.