Furuncle in groin in women - causes, signs, treatment and consequences

The appearance of furuncles, or pustular lesions on the skin, is quite common. They do not bring a serious threat to health, but they can cause considerable inconvenience. A furuncle in the inguinal area of ​​women can cause painful sensations, restrict movement, cause moral discomfort.

Concept of disease

Furuncle is an inflammatory lesionand suppuration of the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and surrounding tissue focus. This disease is caused by pyogenic bacteria, in the overwhelming majority of cases of staphylococci, although infrequent streptococcal pathogens and mixed infections are rare. These microorganisms prefer a moist habitat, so the groin area is considered a favorable zone for them.

HELP! Normally, staphylococci are always present on the skin surface, but 90% of them are not dangerous.

The situation changes when, under the influence of various provoking factors, the balance of microorganisms is disrupted. As a result of activation of pathogenic bacteria, an inflammatory process is initiated in the area of ​​the hair root and surrounding tissues, single or multiple furuncles( furunculosis) are formed.

Causes of

The etiological mechanism of this disease is triggered by a number of factors:

• dysfunction of the immune system, the inability of the body's defenses to inhibit the activity of the pathogen;
• taking certain medications( immunosuppressants, cytostatics, etc.);
• infectious diseases, especially the urogenital system. Sex diseases( gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, herpes) contribute to the appearance of furuncles in the groin;
• hypothermia of the body. This factor is a frequent cause of the appearance of the furuncle in the inguinal region, especially when the disease recursive form. Basically, this refers to the hypothermia of the lower body( bathing in a cold pond, clothes not seasonal, etc.);

• non-compliance with personal hygiene;
• pediculosis of the pubic region can also provoke furuncle development;
• increased secretion of sweat, which causes a violation of the microflora of the skin, its protective properties, creates a favorable environment for the multiplication of bacteria;
• dysfunction of metabolic processes, hormonal imbalance;
• deficiency of vitamins, mainly A, B and C;
• damage to the skin - abrasions, scratching, cuts, which serves as an "entrance gate" for infection;
• application of close synthetic friction-creating laundry also refers to the causes of the pathology.

Stages of development and symptomatology of the disease

The duration of the disease is about 10 days. During this time, the furuncle in women in the groin is experiencing three standard stages of its development.

Stage		Stage	Image	Clinical manifestations
Formation of infiltrate		The appearance of a dense, edematous scarlet patch above the skin surface - an infiltrate 1-3 cm in size. This area gradually increases, it becomes painful, in the middle of the swelling of the hair, because the source of inflammation is insideits follicle. Tingling, tension feeling
Purulent-necrotic stage		This stage occurs 3-4 days after the onset of the disease and is characterized by the most vivid clinical manifestations. Furuncle matures, in its center formed a purulent stem, the head of which protrudes above the surface of the infiltrate. Soreness increases, for this reason, a woman experiences pain in the affected area when walking, is forced to restrict movement, a ripple is felt, there may be phenomena of intoxication( fever to 37-38 degrees, malaise), inflammation of the lymph nodes. Further, the liquid inside the boil, consisting of pus, lymph, blood, breaks through the pustule and comes out. IMPORTANT!When the formation is opened, it is necessary that the rod( condensed plug-cork) must go out, otherwise a relapse of the disease may occur.
. Healing		. After sorption of the contents of the boil and its stem, the soreness, swelling, reddening drop sharply. The liquid for some time still leaves the cavity. The blue-red wound gradually heals within 2-3 days and turns pale, after small formations there are no traces, after large lesions there may be a scar

Treatment

Therapy for getting rid of the furuncle in the groin in women depends on the stage of its developmentis. Treatment is usually outpatient, in rare complicated cases, hospitalization may be required( for example, with an abscess, when the purulent process affects the subcutaneous fatty tissue).

In most cases, doctors use local therapy. The following treatment methods are used:

• The general point is regular antiseptic treatment of the affected area. This is done using hydrogen peroxide ( 3%), salicylic and boric alcohol( 2% and 3% respectively).Treatment is made from the edges of the site to the center in order to avoid the spread of infection, the hair in this area must be cut;
  

  Hydrogen peroxide for antiseptic treatment of boils

• Therapy in the first stage of development of the boil usually aims to relieve the symptoms of inflammation. For this purpose, alcohol compresses are applied to the infiltrate. It is possible to reorganize with Miramistin and Chlorhexidine followed by the use of ointment Levomekol .Widely used Ichthyol , which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, keratoplastic effects. Ointment is abundantly lubricated with furuncle, cotton wool is superimposed on top - this mass soon wilts( "ichthyol cake").Then it is washed off with warm water. Well-proven application of ultraviolet exposure in erythematous areas, laser therapy;
  

  Ointment for external use Levomekol

• treatment in the second stage is aimed at accelerating the maturation of the boil and its breakthrough. Therapy also includes site sanitation, ointment treatment( Ichthyol , Vishnevsky ).Sometimes prescribed systemic drugs( antibiotics) and apply surgical treatment.
  

  Ichthyol Ointment

Macrolides, cephalosporins are often prescribed for antibacterial agents against resistant microorganisms - Rifampicin .Possible use of drugs from the group of NSAIDs for analgesia and anti-inflammatory effect( Ibuprofen , Paracetamol , etc.).

A physician can perform the dissection of the affected area with solutions of an antibiotic and novocaine, often even a one-time procedure leads to a cure. In rare cases, blockade is repeated daily or a day before the departure of the boil rod. It is also possible to use compresses with solution of silver nitrate ( 1%).

When the furuncle is surgically opened, the doctor applies salicylic acid to the formation, which corrodes a thin tissue and helps the fluid to escape. The rod is removed by a clamp, the rubber is placed inside the cavity for 3 days for the outflow of pus, then it is removed.

Surgical excision of the furuncle is performed in the absence of the effect of therapeutic treatment and when complications appear.

After opening the formation and leaving its contents, the treatment consists in sanitizing the wound. The rod is removed after its complete rejection from the skin.

The deep cavity formed is treated with hydrogen peroxide( 3%), it is purified by saline solution from the remains of pus and lymph. At intervals of 2-3 days, Vishnevsky's ointment is applied in the form of bandages. Ichthyol ointment after opening the boil is no longer used, because it will become an obstacle to the rejection of pus and the rod.

WARNING! In case of insufficient disinfection of the wound cavity, relapse of the disease is possible!

During the healing period it is necessary to carefully monitor the hygiene of the groin area, avoid sweating, exercise, visits to baths, saunas, swimming pools. You can use the cream Kontraktubeks .It promotes faster wound healing and resorption of scars after major boils.

Video - Causes and stages of furunculosis

Furuncle during pregnancy

The appearance of purulent formation during the period of gestation is due to the same reasons as in the other cases. However, the body of a pregnant woman is more predisposed to the negative effect of provoking factors, because during this period there is a natural disruption of the hormonal balance, a decrease in immune activity, a change in metabolic processes.

At the initial manifestations of the disease in the inguinal area, one should immediately consult a doctor to avoid the development of complications. Symptomatology in pregnancy is usually more pronounced, signs of intoxication, local soreness increase.

Systemic treatment with antibiotics during this period is undesirable because of the negative impact on the child, is prescribed in extreme cases in the event of complications. Usually, local therapy is applied, during this period, sanation with Chlorhexidine, Miramistin is performed, ointment application is used( Levomekol, Ihtiolova ).Surgical treatment is rarely used.

Complications of

With the correct and timely treatment, disinfecting the risk of negative consequences is minimal. However, in some cases, the following complications of the furuncle in the groin may occur:

• lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the lymph nodes. Occurs in a pronounced inflammatory process. When the follicle matures, the infection spreads to neighboring lymph nodes;
• lymphangitis - inflammatory process in the course of lymphatic vessels;
• relapse of the disease or its chronic forms a - often occurs when the wound is sanitized or blocked, which prevents a complete outflow of pus and lymph from the boil;
• sepsis is a serious complication caused by infection in the blood and its spread throughout the body;
• arthritis - articular inflammation, if the affected area is in the area of ​​joints;
  

  The complications of the boil

• spread the infectious process of to the kidneys, liver and other organs, like metastases;
• is a localized and common amniotic fluid .In the first case, the formations tend to periodically appear in one area( in the groin), in the second - they are distributed in different parts of the body. The main reason for this complication is inadequate sanitation and insufficiency of the boil;
• abscessed boil - spread of infection in the deeper layers of the skin, into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. Treatment in this case is exclusively surgical.

IMPORTANT! One of the causes of complications, including severe ones, is an attempt to squeeze out or pierce the boil alone. In this case, the pus enters the venous and lymphatic vessels surrounding the tissues, which contributes to the generalization of the infectious process, the development of conditions threatening life.

It is also necessary to be careful when depilating intimate areas, avoid rubbing clothing on the affected area.

Prevention

To minimize the risk of occurrence or recurrence of the furuncle in the groin area, women should follow a number of preventive measures:

• with hyperhidrosis, it is desirable to use dusting powders, talc to eliminate excess moisture of the skin;
• regular and proper hygienic procedures;
• strengthening of the immune system, normalization of metabolic processes;
• should avoid hypothermia, especially the lower body;
• obligatory reorganization of skin lesions( wounds, scratches, cuts after depilation, etc.).

At the first signs of the appearance of a boil, consult a doctor to conduct differential diagnosis with other skin conditions and choose the appropriate treatment tactics. The localization of education in the groin area often causes confusion in women, as a result of which a doctor's visit is postponed until the onset of an acute condition or complications. It should be taken into account that correct and timely treatment of the boil will allow to completely get rid of unpleasant symptoms and discomfort within 10 days, help to avoid serious complications and the transition of the acute form of the disease to chronic.