How to take care of a child with boils

The article was written by Specialist Doctor I Do Thi Thao - Pediatrician, Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Pimples are inflammation of the hair follicles caused by bacteria. At first, it was just a red spot on the skin, then the lesion spread, swelling, and pus turned into pus, causing a lot of pain for the child if not treated promptly.

In some cases, bacteria can enter the bloodstream causing bacteremia, empyema, pericardium, septic shock, etc., which is dangerous to the child's life. Many children have not only 1 boil but many boils, if many boils merge into a cluster called a boil cluster. Large boils can be called abscesses. Common locations of boils are: Face, neck, armpits, shoulders, buttocks... The cause of boils is a bacterial infection of the skin. Commonly caused by streptococcus and staphylococcus aureus...

All children, even healthy children, can get boils. However, children with the following risk factors have a higher risk of developing boils, the course of which can be more complicated and prolonged
Children with diabetes Children with scratches, contaminated skin Children with eczema Children with impaired Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (medication or disease) Children with iron deficiency anemia

Children with fever Boils rapidly increasing in size Boils that do not turn pus, do not improve after 2 days There are many boils or boils larger than 5 cm Children complain of a lot of pain Children have medical conditions that are risk factors for more severe boils as mentioned above in the above section The location of the boil near the eye If one of the above signs is present, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor soon.

In most cases of boils, if there are no signs as mentioned in the above section, mothers can take care of their children at home. When the boil is on the head and pus, use a clean towel dipped in warm water and place it on the boil. and gently squeeze, doing so several times a day will help the pus to be drained out faster. Wash hands thoroughly before and after contact with boils. Do not allow children to touch and scratch boils. Always wash your child's hands clean When the boil has burst, use gauze and betadin antiseptic solution to clean it, wipe off the pus and drained blood Absolutely do not squeeze the boil when it has not turned pus because it can cause pain much for the child and create conditions for bacteria to enter the blood If the boil is getting bigger and bigger, the child is in a lot of pain... need to take the child to the doctor soon

Antibiotics: Antibiotics are often prescribed in cases where the child has a fever, many boils, large boils, and a lot of pain, in addition, doctors can combine with blood tests to assess the level and choose a reasonable antibiotic. . When taking antibiotics, it is necessary to follow the doctor's prescription and use them for a full day, to avoid stopping too soon, causing relapse and drug resistance. Incision and drainage: In many cases, antibiotics alone are not enough, doctors will appoint an incision to drain the pus out. In this case, the child needs to be hospitalized for the procedure of injecting the pus. The child will be relieved of pain during the procedure. The doctor will make an incision in the boil to remove all the pus, secretions and clean it. Then the boil will be covered with gauze. After the procedure, the child needs to stay in the hospital for a few days to be monitored, intravenous antibiotics are used. Always keep the bandage clean and dry. The nurses will check the dressing daily and change the dressing when indicated. In case a child has severe sepsis, septic shock, empyema, pericardium, etc., they need to be hospitalized immediately and actively treated at the hospital's intensive care unit.

Pediatrics Department at Vinmec is one of the few multi-specialty hospitals with a full range of doctors specializing in neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, nutrition, psychology, endocrinology, and hepatobiliary care, helping to quickly and promptly handle the disease. detect diseases during the examination. As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.