Boils (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Boils Overview
- Causes of Boils
- Symptoms of Boils
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Boils Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Boils - Slideshow
- Viewer Comments: Boils - Effective Treatments
Medical Treatment
If the boil is large, your health-care provider may need to open it up and drain the pus. This is done with a scalpel after the area of the boil is numbed with a local anesthetic.
If the infection is deep, your doctor may put some gauze in the incision to keep it open and draining. The gauze is usually removed in two days.
If there are concerns about the seriousness of the infection, blood tests may be needed. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is severe.
A large skin abscess caused by a staph infection may need to be surgically opened and drained and treated with intravenous antibiotics.
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