Carbuncle

• Oral Thrush
• Thrush lesions in the esophagus, causes pain and difficulty swallowing
• Lesions on the larynx, causing hoarse voice
• Fingernails and toenails – painful, reddened, and tense swelling at the base or along the sides
• Reddened, irritated areas seen under the arms, groin, breasts, vagina.These areas are often itchy and uncomfortable
• Hard and horn-like lesions with a reddened base, on the skin, scalp, and trunk
• In very rare occasions infection of deeper organs or in the blood.

• Initially it appears as a red lump and as it grows pus starts to appear. Pus may come from the site, especially as time passes

• There is tenderness and pain
• Occasionally there is presence of fever.
• Usually apparent to the physician on exam. The healthcare provider may collect a sample of pus from the abscess and send it to the laboratory so the organism can be identified
• Cultures of pus may be sent to make sure antibiotic choice is correct

Antibiotics commonly used are flucloxacillin and erythromycin.

• Warm soaks and moist compresses.
• Incision and drainage of the lesion. Antibiotics may also be needed for fluctuant lesions.
• To avoid spreading of infection, do not burst a abscess
• Apply hot compress 3 times a day for 10 minutes to help ripen the boil
• Wash the area thoroughly after the boil has burst and cover it with dry dressing.