General Surgery in Lagos
Boils and Abscesses
The signs, what causes it, and when to see a general surgery specialist in Lagos.
Signs to look for
Boils and Abscesses
- A red, tender lump that grows and becomes more painful over a few days
- A yellow or white point at the top as pus collects
- Warm, red, swollen skin around the lump
- A lump in the armpit, groin, buttock, thigh or near the anus
- Fever, chills or feeling unwell with a larger abscess
A boil is an infection of a hair root that fills with pus, usually caused by bacteria that live on the skin. An abscess is a larger collection of pus under the skin or deeper in the body, and a cluster of boils joined together is called a carbuncle. Small boils often come to a head, burst and heal with warm compresses at home. A larger, painful abscess needs a doctor to open and drain it, because antibiotics alone cannot reach pus that is walled off. Boils that keep coming back can be a sign of diabetes, so a blood sugar test is worth doing.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- A red, tender lump that grows and becomes more painful over a few days
- A yellow or white point at the top as pus collects
- Warm, red, swollen skin around the lump
- A lump in the armpit, groin, buttock, thigh or near the anus
- Fever, chills or feeling unwell with a larger abscess
- Boils that come back in the same place, or that pass between people in the same house
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if a boil is larger than a coin, very painful, has not burst after a week of warm compresses, or keeps coming back. See a doctor the same day for an abscess on the face, near the anus, in the breast or on the hand, for redness spreading out from the lump, or for a fever. Go to hospital urgently if you feel very unwell, or if you have diabetes, sickle cell disease or a weak immune system and the infection is spreading. Do not squeeze a boil or cut it open yourself, because that can push the infection deeper.
Treatment options
- Warm compresses several times a day to help a small boil come to a head and drain
- Keeping the area clean and covered, and washing your hands after touching it
- Incision and drainage, where a doctor opens the abscess under local anaesthetic and lets the pus out
- Antibiotics alongside drainage for spreading redness, fever, or an abscess in a risky place
- Tests for diabetes, and for HIV where advised, when boils keep coming back
- Antiseptic skin washes, and treating the household, when boils keep passing between family members
What it costs on Mezo
Starting cash prices for the treatments used for this condition.
Common Questions
Should I squeeze or burst a boil?
No. Squeezing can push the infection deeper and spread it. Warm compresses help a boil drain on its own. If it does not, a doctor can open it cleanly under local anaesthetic.
Will antibiotics clear an abscess?
Not on their own. Pus collected under the skin needs a way out. Antibiotics are added when the infection is spreading, when you have a fever, or when another condition makes infection more dangerous for you.
Why do I keep getting boils?
Some people carry the bacteria in the nose or on the skin and get boils again and again. Diabetes, a weak immune system and close contact with someone who has boils also make them more likely. A doctor can test for these and advise on skin washes.
Is a painful lump near the anus a boil?
It may be an anal abscess, which needs draining by a surgeon, usually the same day or the next. Some anal abscesses leave a small tunnel called a fistula afterwards, which needs its own treatment.
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