Skin
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Furuncle
Definition
Deep seated skin infection involving the pilosebaceous unit most commonly caused by S. aureaus.
Clinical Features
- Deep-seated infection centered on pilosebaceous unit1
- Painful, follicular papule:
- surrounding:
- center usually:
- becomes yellow
- softens
- discharges pus
- heals with minimal scarring
- Location:
- commonly sites of friction by clothing such as:
- back of neck
- buttocks
- inner aspect of thighs
Carbuncle
- A coalescence of multiple furuncles:
- May lead to multiple points of drainage on skin surface
- Often constitutional symptoms
Pathogenesis
- Staphylococcus aureus is organism most often involved2
Histopathology3
- Deep dermal abscess:
- centered on hair follicle, which is usually destroyed:
- sometimes residual hair shaft in center of abscess
- often extension of inflammatory process into subcutis
- Overlying epidermis:
- eventually destroyed
- surface covered by inflammatory crust
Differential Diagnosis
Select up to 2 differential diagnoses to compare with Furuncle
References
1 Tunnessen WW. Practical aspects of bacterial skin infections in children. Pediatr Dermatol. 1985;2:255–265.
2 DemirHay Z, EkÕio—lu-Demiralp E, Ergun T, Ako—lu T. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst by neutrophils in patients with recurrent furunculosis. Br J Dermatol. 1998;138:1036–1038.
3 Pinkus H. Furuncle. J Cutan Pathol. 1979;6:517–518.
Last updated: 26 Nov 2006
