Boil

Boil

Boil/Pigsa

Boil is a disease which has been experienced by the people in the olden times. According to the bible, “If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. ...Leviticus 13:18-23. 

Anyway, scientifically speaking this is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. The most common places for boils to appear are on the head, legs, face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. 

Causes of Boils: Most boils are caused by a germ (staphylococcal bacteria). This germ enters the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin or can travel down the hair to the follicle.

Symptoms of Boils: A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are the signs of a severe infection:

1. The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm, and swollen. 
2. More boils may appear around the original one.
3. A fever develops.
4. Lymph nodes become swollen.