Boils on babies may resolve without interventions or simple home remedies. However, it is recommended to seek pediatric care if the boils are not cured within a few days. These are also called furuncles, an infection of hair follicles deep in the skin due to bacteria or fungi (1).Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent; usually, the infection may begin with scratches or insect bites on the skin. These are painful red nodules filled with pus (2). Immediate medical attention is needed for recurrent boils or those growing in size (3). Read on to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for boils on babies.
Are Boils Common In Babies?
Boils most commonly appear in teenagers or young adults. Although not very common, they may be observed in babies. A boil can develop in healthy infants, but babies with weakened immune systems, existing skin infections, as well as frequent insects bites insects are at a higher risk (4).
Where Do Boils Appear On The Body?
Babies can get boils anywhere on the body since boils can spread from one part of the body to another. The most common areas for boils to occur are places where there is friction and/or places that tend to be sweaty, such as face, neck, shoulders, thighs, armpits, and buttocks (4). It is essential to know the symptoms to differentiate boils from other skin conditions.
Symptoms Of Boils In Babies
A boil clinically present as red, swollen, painful and tender nodules of varying size and at times with an overlying pustule.(5). You may notice other symptoms as the boil grows larger (6). The baby could display more symptoms depending on the cause of the boils.
When To See A Doctor?
In most cases, boils heal within two weeks. However, it is good to consult a doctor when you notice the following conditions (7) (6) (8). If a boil bursts, you also might seek medical advice.
Home Remedies For Boils In Babies
When a boil first appears, the pus-filled cavity (abscess) is absent. In this phase, doctors might recommend the following home remedies (9). Always consult a doctor before using any home remedy on the baby’s skin.
Causes Of Boils In Babies
Bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (staph), which is present on the baby’s skin, is the most common cause of boils. It usually does not cause a problem. However, an infection might develop due to the following reasons.
Diagnosis Of Boils In Babies
A timely diagnosis of the cause can help prevent discomfort to the baby. Following is the possible course of diagnosis that your doctor would follow (12). The diagnosis of the underlying cause determines the course of treatment for the boils.
Treatment For Boils In Babies
Sometimes boils get better on their own or with the help of a home remedy. But if they do not, the following treatment could be prescribed (5).
1. Incision and drainage
It is the standard treatment for large boils. The doctor gives local anesthesia or uses a cooling agent to numb the area and gently slits the boil. Then, cotton gauze is used to compress and extract the pus out of the boil. The wound is not stitched but covered with an antibiotic plaster to promote healing. The entire process is performed as a minor surgery at an outpatient clinic, and you can take the baby home after the procedure. The doctor may ask you to return the next day or a few days later to change the dressing and inspect the progress of healing.
2. Systemic antibiotics therapy
In this process, antibiotics are administered through an intravenous drip or injection. Antibiotics help combat the bacteria that led to the infection in the first place, thus ultimately leading to relief from boils. This mode of treatment is usually used in cases of severe boils that can cause complications and thus cannot be drained.
3. Keeping still
Another treatment for boils is “keeping still,” which is considered when the boil is on the face in order to minimize the risk of spreading the bacteria through the bloodstream. In this method, the affected part of the skin is kept as still as possible and not touched. However, this method can be difficult to implement in babies since they are active, and it is hard to teach them to stay still or not touch a part of the face. If your baby has secondary symptoms, such as fever, then the doctor will prescribe relevant medications.
Complication Of Boils In Babies
Prompt treatment can not only treat and heal boils but can also prevent some complications, such as those mentioned below. Complications arising from boils are rare and mostly occur when severe boils are ignored and not provided medical attention. They can be prevented through simple precautionary measures.
Prevention of Boils In Babies
Here are some simple steps to prevent boils (13).
