boil
boil
Inflamed pus-filled swelling due to staphylococcus skin infection at a hair follicle. It is painful and feels hard. Boils usually occur in hairy areas exposed to friction and maceration. Scratching an existing skin disorder may introduce staphylococci on the skin into hair follicles and cause a boil to arise. A carbuncle occurs when several adjoining boils merge. Healing requires discharging the pus. Treatment involves antibiotics.
Variants of BOIL
boil or furuncle or furunculosis
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on boil, visit Britannica.com.
Learn More About BOIL
Seen & Heard 
What made you look up boil? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.
