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Boils, carbuncles, folliculitis, paronychia and staphylococcal whitlow - Management
For someone with a suspected boil, carbuncle, folliculitis, acute paronychia or staphylococcal whitlow, what assessment do I need to make?
Assess:
- Size and position of the lesion.
- Presence of pus or fluctuance.
- Symptoms suggesting systemic spread of infection.
- Whether a swab is required.
- Whether it is a recurrent problem.
Clarification / Additional information
- Fluctuance is a wave-like feeling on palpating skin overlying a fluid-filled cavity with nonrigid walls (e.g. a cavity containing pus) [Pugh, 2000].
- Swabs are not always necessary, but are useful in certain situations. For more information, see Need for a swab.
- Identification and treatment of staphylococcal carriage can be beneficial for people with recurrent lesions. For more information, see Managing staphylococcal carriage.
Basis for recommendation
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