A boil is an inflammatory formation on the skin. Location - the area around the pilosebaceous follicle. A single element indicates a mild form; if many inflammatory foci appear, the disease becomes complex. A boil during pregnancy poses a threat to the mother and the unborn baby; it is important to start treatment on time and carry it out competently.
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.
What is a boil
A boil is popularly called a boil. This inflammatory process can affect the armpits, groin areas, arms and legs, and face. In a word, suppuration appears in areas of thick hair. A boil in an intimate area affects the follicle from which the hair grows and the area around or near it, forming a purulent sac. The causative agent of subcutaneous suppuration is the bacterium white or aureus Staphylococcus, which in no way relates to sexually transmitted diseases and other pathologies in this area.
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.
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.
What it looks like and where it appears
A furuncle is formed during purulent-necrotic inflammation in the hair follicle, which is provoked by certain strains of staphylococci. The first signs of an abscess are:
- the skin turns red and swells a little;
- on the surface of the skin you can clearly see how it is filled with pus;
- the location of the boil is usually very painful;
- if the boil is large or there are several of them (we are talking about a carbuncle), the body temperature can rise significantly.
A boil in a pregnant woman can occur on any area of the skin where sebaceous glands and hair are present. Most often, staphylococcus affects the skin near the ears and the area between the nose and upper lip. Other locations:
- skin on the thighs and buttocks;
- in the genital area;
- armpits;
- on the back of the neck, in the collar area;
- on the scalp.
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!
Symptoms
A boil is understood as a purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle, glands (sebaceous, sweat) and adjacent connective tissue. This process can develop on almost any part of the skin (head, neck, torso, arms, legs), but most often it affects areas exposed to constant pollution and friction.
The inflammatory process is acute in nature, so it manifests itself quite clearly. A boil during pregnancy first looks like a small lump the size of a pea, painful on palpation. The skin over it turns red and swells. Gradually, the infiltration increases, and burning and pain appear at the site of the lesion.
The second phase of boil development is characterized by the formation of a purulent-necrotic core. A yellow clearing (pustule) appears at the top of the swelling. Pus accumulates inside the boil, causing the boil to take on a cone-shaped shape and become bright red and shiny. This is accompanied by increased pain, which becomes pulsating. Body temperature rises, and signs of intoxication may even appear (malaise, weakness). If the abscess is localized in the external auditory canal, then in addition to the symptoms described above, pain in the ear and a feeling of stuffiness appear.
The process of boil maturation takes an average of a week, and ends with the breakthrough of pus and the removal of the necrotic core. The wound is cleared of pathological masses and heals by scarring within 2–3 days. All signs of inflammation (local and general) disappear. As a rule, single boils are observed during pregnancy, less often the process takes on a multiple character.
Abscesses in pregnant women go through typical stages of development and are accompanied by known signs of inflammation.
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 does a boil appear on the labia?
The development of a boil on the labia (infection and ripening) occurs in stages. If a pimple pops up in an intimate place, under no circumstances try to squeeze it out yourself, this sometimes leads to more serious consequences. Often a boil directly near the vagina causes discomfort for many women, but do not forget that health is more important. The stages of development of the disease are:
- pain syndrome;
- the formation of red swelling in the groin, in the vulva area, similar to a large pimple, accompanied by discomfort and pain when pressed;
- the formation of a purulent head after two to three days, the abscess noticeably increases in size (the average diameter of the tubercle is 1.5-2 cm), body temperature may rise and itching may be noted at the site of the abscess;
- the boil breaks out and pus is revealed;
- a purulent necrotic core remains at the site of the breakthrough, which dies over time;
- the swelling goes away, leaving behind a small scar, which also soon disappears.
