Boil - Follicle

Also called boils, they are commonly called nebuto (a boil), katane (a boil), and katane (a boil). Staphylococcus aureus, a type of pyogenic bacteria, infects the hair follicles and sebaceous glands through the hair follicles, causing purulent inflammation, resulting in red swelling around the hair follicles and severe pain. As the suppuration progresses, the center softens and breaks, expelling yellowish-white pus plugs, and the pain and swelling quickly subsides and the condition heals. Fever, chills, lymphangitis, and lymphadenitis may be present. Boils on the face are called facial boils, and if they occur on the lips or eyelids, the swelling becomes so severe that it becomes impossible to open the mouth or eyes. Phlebitis and meningitis could also occur, but these are rarely seen today due to antibiotic therapy. Boils that occur one after another are called carbuncles. This is common in diabetes and when boils have not been completely treated. Rest is important when treating boils, as pressing or scratching the area will worsen the symptoms. It is best to apply antibiotic ointment and apply a cold compress made from tap water. Incision is usually made after the area has fully suppurated, but nowadays, taking antibiotics orally at an early stage will often stop the suppuration and allow the area to heal.

[Nonami Eiichiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

疔(ちょう)ともいい、俗におでき、ねぶと、かたねなどとよばれる。毛孔から化膿(かのう)菌の黄色ブドウ球菌が感染して、毛包、脂腺(しせん)に化膿性炎症をおこしたもので、毛孔を中心として赤い地腫(じば)れを生じ、痛みが激しい。化膿が進むと中央が軟化し、破れて黄白色の膿栓を排出し、急速に痛みや腫れが引いて治る。発熱、悪寒、リンパ管炎、リンパ節炎を伴うことがある。顔に生じた癤は面疔とよばれ、口唇や瞼(まぶた)にできると腫れがひどくなり、口や目があけられなくなる。また静脈炎や髄膜炎を続発することがあったが、抗生物質療法により今日ではほとんどみられなくなった。癤が次々に多発するものを癤腫症(せつしゅしょう)という。糖尿病のときや癤の不完全な治療の場合に多い。癤の治療には安静がたいせつで、圧迫したりひっかいたりすると症状を悪化させる。抗生物質軟膏(なんこう)をはり、水道水で冷湿布するのがよい。切開は十分に化膿してから行うが、現在では早期に抗生物質を内服すると化膿が進まずに治ることが多い。

［野波英一郎］

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