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Boils, carbuncles, folliculitis, paronychia and staphylococcal whitlow - Background information
What is it?

Boils, carbuncles, folliculitis, acute paronychia, and staphylococcal whitlow are different presentations of staphylococcal infection. For more information, see Table 1.

Table 1. Definitions of boil, carbuncle, folliculitis, acute paronychia, and staphylococcal whitlow.
Definition
Boil (furuncle)
A red, hot, tender, inflammatory nodule with walled-off purulent material, arising from a hair follicle. Boils can exude pus and necrotic material [Hay and Adriaans, 2004; Laube, 2004; Ladhani and Garbash, 2005].
Carbuncle
Infection of a group of adjoining hair follicles, which develops into large, swollen, tender masses with multiple points draining pus. There may be inflammation in surrounding and underlying connective tissue [Hedrick, 2003; Hay and Adriaans, 2004; Ladhani and Garbash, 2005].
Folliculitis
Superficial infection of the hair follicles, which develop into small inflammatory papules or pustules [Hedrick, 2003; Laube, 2004; Sladden and Johnston, 2005].
Acute paronychia
Infection bordering the nail, which causes painful swelling and possibly a visible collection of pus [Clark, 2003; Hay and Adriaans, 2004].
Staphylococcal whitlow (felon)
Abscess of the fleshy area of the palmar aspect of the fingertip [Clark, 2003; Lee et al, 2003; Rontal and Bailey, 2005].

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