A boil is a pustular skin disease, the causative agent of which is Staphylococcus aureus, or, less commonly, white Staphylococcus. The inflammatory process develops in the hair follicle and affects surrounding tissues. It has several stages of maturation: the formation of infiltrate, the process of suppuration and necrosis, scarring. A boil on a woman’s body during pregnancy is dangerous for the development of complications that can negatively affect the course of pregnancy and cause various pathologies in the fetus. Therefore, boils during pregnancy should be treated immediately.
Due to untimely and incorrect treatment of the disease, complications may develop. Boils in the facial area can cause the development of cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, and encephalitis due to infection in the vessels of the brain. When the body's protective function is weakened, multiple lesions of nearby hair follicles (carbuncle) may develop. Infection in the blood leads to the development of sepsis, the outcome of which can be fatal.
Causes of appearance in pregnant women
A disease called furunculosis begins due to the penetration of Staphylococcus aureus into the skin. This type of pathogen has the ability to penetrate the dermis and live in it for a long time without manifesting itself. The infectious process during pregnancy develops as a result of exposure to the following negative factors:
- Crack, microtrauma, accidental wound. They have a provoking effect on the microorganism and promote its active reproduction.
- Streptoderma, staphyloderma, treated incorrectly or untimely.
- Nutrition with an imbalance of important elements. Deficiency of microelements and vitamins is a common condition in the last stages of pregnancy and in the first trimester.
- Regular violation of hygiene rules.
- Decreased immunity.
- Metabolic disorders.
Under the influence of the described reasons, a boil is formed in a favorable zone and goes through three stages of maturation. With timely detection and treatment, its maturation and growth can be prevented.
Diagnosis of the disease
Symptoms
A boil can appear on almost any area of the skin , with areas at risk being areas exposed to increased friction, dirt or sweating.
The main symptom is the appearance of an abscess, which goes through three stages in its development, the whole process takes about ten days.
The second stage of the disease is accompanied by signs of intoxication: loss of appetite, headache, weakness, and malaise.
Signs
Sometimes the formation of a boil is characterized by an erased picture, a necrotic core does not form.
When an abscess forms in the auricle, the following symptoms are added to the main symptoms: diffuse headache, ear pain.
As a result of the furuncle blocking the ear canal, hearing loss occurs.
What are the risks of appearing during pregnancy?
For a woman carrying a child, furunculosis is a dangerous pathology. It negatively affects the fetus, interfering with its proper full development and causing death. While expecting a baby, the expectant mother's body undergoes serious physical stress; various chemical processes occur in it, which significantly reduces the protective barrier of the immune system. When infected with an infection that affects even the surface of the skin, recovery is long and often with complications.
Furunculosis during pregnancy causes a general intoxication syndrome. It disrupts the functioning of internal organs and systems. As a result, after the appearance of one inflamed lesion and treatment, a relapse occurs. The body in different local zones is covered with a whole family of elements. Periodic inflammatory processes weaken the body and make it a favorable environment for the penetration of various viruses and bacteria.
If the infection is not treated correctly, the patient regularly suffers from relapses, and the risk that the inflammatory process will disrupt the subcutaneous fat increases. It will provoke the development of inflammation of a phlegmonous nature or an abscess.
Danger
It should be noted that a boil that appears during pregnancy can pose a danger to the mother and fetus. With delayed treatment or attempts to eliminate the abscess on your own (squeeze, puncture), there is a risk of infection spreading with the development of abscesses or phlegmon. Boils located in the head and neck area pose a risk of meningitis and thrombosis of the cerebral sinuses.
In particularly severe cases, when microbes invade the bloodstream, septic conditions may occur. Such situations also affect the condition of the child, who is also exposed to intrauterine infection. Knowing all this, the pathology should not be neglected - a timely visit to the doctor and active treatment will save the expectant mother from the boil.
Localization Features
A serious complication is the spread of the inflammatory process through the blood vessels and penetration into the brain. In such situations, the danger for a woman is great, and death can occur.
The following complications are possible:
- sepsis;
- lymphadenitis;
- damage to internal organs.
The greatest threat comes from boils located around the perimeter of the face. This zone has a direct connection with the vessels of the brain. Unsuccessful removal can provoke inflammation of the vein walls and subsequent formation of blood clots. Possible thrombophlebitis can be determined by swelling and increasing pain. If the abscess is located inside the nasolabial triangle, then the infection affects the nose, can penetrate under the membrane of the brain and provoke meningoencephalitis or meningitis. These are dangerous diseases. They can cause miscarriage and, in severe cases, death.
As soon as the first symptom of the disease appears on the face, be sure to consult a dermatologist or surgeon.
A boil can appear anywhere during pregnancy. It is possible that an infection may enter the ear canal. This happens as a result of insufficient hygiene with the use of sharp objects and cotton swabs, when removing foreign objects or sulfur with sharp instruments. The main symptom is severe itching, followed by pain in the ear, which gets worse while chewing or talking. When large diameters are reached, the boil blocks the auditory canal and impairs hearing. When opened independently, the chiryak completely disappears, and the ear exudes a purulent mass.
Favorite places for bacteria are the hairline - the groin, labia, and armpits. The main cause of inflammation is shaving with microtrauma. In addition to cuts, a boil can cover the genital passage due to colds. This occurs due to the increased vulnerability of the mucous membrane as a result of a weakened immune system.
It is easy to recognize the signs of infection - the pubis, perineum or armpit begin to itch, hurt and interfere with the usual way of life. Your leg may hurt. A boil on the labia during pregnancy can cause loss of appetite and increased body temperature. This is caused by an inflammatory process inside the body, swelling of infected tissues, their necrosis and decay.
Symptoms
The disease begins with the formation of a solid infiltrate without clear boundaries, having a scarlet color. Sensations include mild pain at the site of the boil, tingling sensation, and itching. Over time, the infiltrate increases in size, pain intensifies, and pronounced swelling of the adjacent tissues is observed.
The next stage is the maturation of the boil with the formation of a purulent-necrotic core with a pustule at the top. Now the boil is a cone-shaped tumor, the skin on its surface becomes smooth and shiny. Pain in the affected area increases, and the patient’s general condition may worsen. The temperature rises, symptoms of intoxication appear.
After a while, the boil opens with the release of purulent contents mixed with blood. The necrotic rod is rejected, pain and swelling disappear. A boil crater remains, which is tightened during the granulation process. A scar forms at the site of the boil. At first, the scar is bluish-red. Over time, the skin in the affected area brightens, the scar mark smoothes out.
The formation of an infiltrate without signs of necrosis and suppuration is characteristic of the latent course of the disease.
If there are errors in treatment or a weak protective reaction of the body, the boil can degenerate into an abscess. Abscess - melting of tissue as a result of inflammation with the formation of purulent cavities.
Review of Safe Treatments
Be careful. A boil that appears during pregnancy requires immediate and gentle treatment. Be sure to contact a surgeon. Due to reduced immunity, the infection quickly progresses and spreads throughout the body. Do not remove it yourself, as this can lead to serious health problems.
In the early period of infection, a woman is prescribed drug therapy. A local antibiotic is prescribed. Oral antibacterial drugs are prescribed in rare cases when the infection has spread throughout the body.
When the abscess passes into the infiltration stage, treatment with antiseptic solutions is necessary. The procedure is carried out daily. Chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide are used for disinfection. The product is applied carefully, preventing further damage to the skin. Be sure to wash your hands before handling! After the procedure, it is recommended to treat your hands with an antiseptic to avoid self-infection.
Forbidden:
- Apply a warm compress to the area of inflammation.
- Open the boil.
- Apply any type of compress.
These actions will provoke an intensification of the inflammatory process and further spread of pus in the subcutaneous layer.
It is allowed to use physiotherapeutic methods during the infiltration period - laser, UHF. The treatment regimen is selected by the doctor individually. Course therapy lasts 5-10 days.
After a boil breaks out, dressing with an antiseptic or antibacterial drug is indicated. The ointment is selected taking into account the following factors: what trimester, how the pregnancy is going, what consequences are possible for the mother and child. Doctors' priority is ointments that are unable to influence the development of the fetus - Vishnevsky, Levomekol. Any stage of pregnancy, late or early, is suitable for local treatment.
When the boil opens, it is necessary to remove the pus with a cotton pad and disinfect the wound. Carefully lubricate the skin around the abscess so as not to spread the infection. Cover the open wound with a dry bandage.
To prevent the dangerous consequence of inflammation in the form of furunculosis, a woman may be prescribed multivitamins. The pharmacy offers a wide selection of drugs, but the optimal composition must be selected by a doctor. From vitamin complexes, mother and child receive useful elements necessary for a quick and complete cure.
It is permissible to prescribe medications to activate the immune system. Self-medication with immunomodulators is prohibited; it is dangerous and can cause problems in the body.
If there is no effect from drug therapy, it is necessary to treat the boil surgically. It is necessary to cut out the affected tissue with the purulent mass and the tissue around it. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The optimal period is from 14 to 32 weeks. If the disease is actively progressing, then surgery is performed regardless of the period. After surgery, the woman and baby are under the supervision of a doctor. Local antibacterial treatment is carried out.
In the future, home care and dressings are required. To prevent relapses, the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet is increased, and grain crops are added. It is important to maintain personal hygiene!
How to cure and prevent pathology?
Treatment of furunculosis in pregnant women is complicated by the fact that not all medications are approved for use during this period. Surgical interventions are also highly undesirable at this time. What if treatment is still necessary?
Traditional therapy
The first step, when a problem is detected, is to immediately treat the boil and the skin around it using any antiseptic, for example, brilliant green, iodine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide. After which you need to consult a doctor. The following treatment is usually prescribed today:
Conservative therapy begins with the most gentle methods: UHF, ointments. You should not select medications on your own, since only a specialist can select effective, safe therapy. While expecting a child, it is not recommended to use antibiotics; most often, safe local drugs are prescribed, which include Levomekol and Vishnevsky ointment. If there is a threat to the mother or fetus, immunostimulants (Viferon) are prescribed.- Surgery during pregnancy is prescribed in rare cases when there is a threat of infection of the body. If there is such a risk, the surgeon opens the boil, cleans the pus, and treats the boil with the necessary medications (for example, Tetracycline ointment).
ethnoscience
Before using traditional medicine methods during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor so as not to worsen the condition with allergic reactions, which women are prone to during this period. To exclude such a development of events, an allergy test should be performed. To do this, a small amount of the selected treatment should be applied to the wrist; if after 15 minutes there is no redness, then therapy can begin using this method.
Among the effective and safe means are the following:
The cake copes well with boils; to prepare it you will need 1 tsp. honey, 1 yolk, 3 tbsp. l. flour, 1 tsp. butter. Then knead these components into a stiff dough, divide it into 3 parts and put it in the refrigerator. From 1 part you need to make a cake, apply it to the boil, and secure it with a bandage. It is recommended to apply the cake for 12 hours. Once the boil has broken out, this method cannot be used. Next you need to use Levomekol ointment.
- Onions are the best remedy for suppuration. To do this, you need to peel 1 onion and bake for 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 200 degrees. After which it should be cooled, cut in half, applied with the cut to the abscess and fixed for 2 hours. You need to make at least 3 compresses per day. After the boil breaks out, you can use Levomekol.
- Raw potatoes have a good effect. To do this, you should peel 1 tuber, grate it on a fine grater, apply the resulting mass to the boil and leave for 1 hour. The procedure is carried out until the abscess breaks through, then you need to use Levomekol.
Will there be consequences for the child?
A single focus of inflammation is not dangerous for pregnancy, the baby is inside. With short-term therapy, further infection can be prevented. A boil in the upper layers of the skin does not affect the development of the child in any way. With a local location, it is impossible to infect the fetus with staphylococcus.
A dangerous scenario is when furunculosis begins with numerous abscesses. Against the background of inflammation, body temperature rises, the disease causes lymphadenitis. This condition in the early stages threatens termination of pregnancy. If it develops after 22 weeks, it can cause premature birth.
If genital or body staphylococcus penetrates the skin and causes sepsis, this threatens to infect the child and cause his death.
A boil in the groin or on the body in pregnant women is a common consequence of weakened immunity, requiring close medical monitoring and adequate treatment.
It doesn’t matter which area is affected, the lip or the groin, measures must be taken quickly to eliminate inflammation and further infection. This disease is dangerous for the expectant mother and the unborn child; it can provoke the death of both. The article has been verified by the editors
How to treat correctly
Self-treatment of a boil on the body, face or intimate area during pregnancy is not possible.
Independent purchase and use of pharmaceutical drugs can lead to unexpected consequences, because not all of them will be safe for the baby.
It is extremely rare that the problem is removed through surgery during pregnancy, only if there is a threat of infection of the entire body.
The doctor prescribes conservative therapy, which is limited to the following methods of influence:
- delicate care of the skin in the affected area;
- the use of pharmaceutical medications to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the inflammatory-purulent process, which will be completely safe for the woman and the unborn child;
- daily treatment of the affected skin area with antiseptic solutions.
A woman should not indulge in self-medication or try out various methods of traditional treatment. It is extremely undesirable to make warm compresses or take baths with various herbs, the properties of which the female representative knows little about. The boil does not need to be covered with a band-aid, because it will not be able to fully ripen. If an unpleasant phenomenon has formed in the intimate area, you should abandon synthetic underwear and perform hygiene measures more often.
If the doctor deems it necessary, at the initial stage of development of the boil, the woman will be offered to undergo radiation therapy, which will help quickly and painlessly cope with pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate the consequences of their vital activity.
How to get rid
Under no circumstances should you put pressure on a boil or try to squeeze it out yourself, especially if it is located in the facial area, due to the risk of blood poisoning. The patient should contact the doctor observing her and, after his consultation, a specialist who will select the correct treatment taking into account the duration of pregnancy.
Drugs
Treatment of furunculosis during pregnancy should only be under the supervision of a doctor, since a number of drugs (stimulating the maturation of boils, ointments, antibiotics) are contraindicated. To support immunity and increase the protective forces of a woman’s body, vitamin complexes are also selected individually.
To treat the wound at the site of the boil and according to indications, an antiseptic such as Chlorhexidine, as well as Ichthyol and Syntomycin ointments, Levomekol (as prescribed by the supervising doctor) can be prescribed. Staphylococcal bacteriophage is effective for treatment.
Surgical methods
Only a surgeon should remove a boil during pregnancy. An immediate visit to a specialist will be required if, against the background of furunculosis, severe pain occurs in the lower abdomen and blood discharge appears from the genitals. An alarming symptom is persistent fever (more than three days).
An unscheduled visit to a specialist will be required in case of chronic furunculosis and when boils are localized on the face. The surgeon will competently remove the abscess and clean the wound. The procedure for removing a boil is standard. At the healing stage, the woman will need to strictly follow the recommendations for antiseptic wound treatment and personal hygiene.
