Carbuncle

Carbuncle

A carbuncle is an abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin. It is usually caused by bacterial infection, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus. The infection is contagious and may spread to other areas of the body or other people.

A carbuncle is made up of several skin boils. The infected mass is filled with fluid, pus, and dead tissue. Fluid may drain out of the carbuncle, but sometimes the mass is so deep that it cannot drain on its own.Carbuncles may develop anywhere, but they are most common on the back and the nape of the neck. Men get carbuncles more often than women. Because the condition is contagious, family members may develop carbuncles at the same time. Often, the direct cause of a carbuncle cannot be determined. Things that make carbuncle infections more likely include friction from clothing or shaving, generally poor hygiene and weakening of immunity. For example, persons with diabetes and immune system diseases are more likely to develop staphylococcal infections.

The carbuncle may be the size of a pea or as large as a golf ball. It may be red and irritated and might hurt when touched. It may also grow very fast and have a white or yellow center. It may crust or spread to other skin areas. Sometimes, other symptoms may occur. These may include fatigue, fever and general discomfort or sick feeling. Sometimes an itching occurs before the carbuncle develops.

Treatment

Carbuncles usually must drain before they will heal. This most often occurs on its own in less than 2 weeks. Placing a warm moist cloth on the carbuncle helps it to drain, which speeds healing. The affected area should be soaked with a warm, moist cloth several times each day. The carbuncle should not be squeezed, or cut open without medical supervision, as this can spread and worsen the infection.

Treatment is needed if the carbuncle lasts longer than 2 weeks, returns frequently, is located on the spine or the middle of the face, or occurs along with a fever or other symptoms. Treatment helps reduce complications related to an infection. A doctor may prescribe antibacterial soaps and antibiotics applied to the skin or taken by mouth. Deep or large lesions may need to be drained by a health professional.

Proper hygiene is very important to prevent the spread of infection. Hands should always be washed thoroughly, preferably with antibacterial soap, after touching a carbuncle. Washcloths and towels should not be shared or reused. Clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that contact infected areas should be washed in very hot (preferably boiling) water. Bandages should be changed frequently and thrown away in a tightly-closed bag. If boils/carbuncles recur frequently, daily use of an antibacterial soap or cleanser containing triclosan, triclocarban or chlorhexideine, can suppress staph bacteria on the skin.

Prognosis

Carbuncles may heal on their own. Others usually respond well to treatment. However, a carbuncle can return again and again for months or years following the first infection. Call a doctor if a carbuncle does not heal with home treatment within 2 weeks or is located on the face, neck or spine. The same if you have a fever or a lot of swelling around the carbuncle, or pain that gets worse. Also consult a professional if carbuncles come back often. They can be fatal.

Monstrous carbuncle

In 1984 Charles, Prince of Wales famously described the proposed Sainsbury Wing extension to the National Gallery in London as a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend", [cite web|url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_at_the_150th_anniversary_1876801621.html|title=A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace|accessdate=2007-06-16] a term now widely used to describe architecture, particularly modernist architecture, unsympathetic to its surroundings. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4285069.stm|title=Prince's new architecture blast|accessdate=2007-06-16] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1162818.stm|title=No cash for 'highest slum'|accessdate=2007-06-16]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carbuncle — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Étymologie Carbuncle vient du latin carbunculus qui signifie pierre rouge foncée. Jeux vidéo Carbuncle est une invocation fréquente dans l univers de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • carbuncle — early 13c., fiery jewel, from O.N.Fr. carbuncle (O.Fr. charbocle) carbuncle stone, also carbuncle, boil, from L. carbunculus red gem, also red, inflamed spot, lit. a little coal, from carbo (gen. carbonis) coal (see CARBON (Cf. carbon)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Carbuncle — Car bun*cle, n. [L. carbunculus a little coal, a bright kind of precious stone, a kind of tumor, dim. of carbo coal: cf. F. carboncle. See {Carbon}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Min.) A beautiful gem of a deep red color (with a mixture of scarlet) called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carbuncle — *abscess, boil, furuncle, pimple, pustule …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • carbuncle — ► NOUN 1) a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin. 2) a bright red gem, in particular a polished garnet. DERIVATIVES carbuncular adjective. ORIGIN Latin carbunculus small coal , from carbo coal, charcoal …   English terms dictionary

  • carbuncle — [kär′buŋ΄kəl] n. [ME < OFr < L carbunculus, a little coal, gem < carbo: see CARBON] 1. a) Archaic any of certain deep red gems b) a smooth, convex, deep red garnet 2. a painful bacterial infection (esp. Staphylococcus aureus) deep… …   English World dictionary

  • carbuncle — [13] Etymologically, a carbuncle is a ‘small piece of coal’. It comes ultimately from Latin carbunculus, a diminutive form of carbō ‘coal’ (source of English carbon). This reached English via Old French carbuncle. The Latin word had two main… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • carbuncle — [13] Etymologically, a carbuncle is a ‘small piece of coal’. It comes ultimately from Latin carbunculus, a diminutive form of carbō ‘coal’ (source of English carbon). This reached English via Old French carbuncle. The Latin word had two main… …   Word origins

  • carbuncle — /kahr bung keuhl/, n. 1. Pathol. a painful circumscribed inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, resulting in suppuration and sloughing, and having a tendency to spread somewhat like a boil, but more serious in its effects. 2. a gemstone, esp. a …   Universalium

  • carbuncle — UK [ˈkɑː(r)ˌbʌŋk(ə)l] / US [ˈkɑrˌbʌŋk(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms carbuncle : singular carbuncle plural carbuncles 1) a big painful lump under your skin, caused by an infection 2) a red jewel 3) a building that is extremely unpleasant to… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”