Greetings kasey1028-ga
I have gathered some resources for you about Furunculosis,
specifically regarding your concerns about it's causes,
reoccurance, treatment and location on the scalp.
If you have any questions about the information in which I have
provided, do feel free to request a clarification of my answer. Please
be sure to allow me enough time to respond to your clarification
request before rating the answer.
Thanks so much! chellphill-ga
Causes:
http://www.fpnotebook.com/DER113.htm
"Staphylococcus aureus (most common), Streptococcus species and Mixed
bacterial infection"
"1. Hair Follicle infection that spreads to deeper tissue
1. Often begins as Folliculitis
2. Walled-off Nodule of purulent infection
1. Firm wall with inner fluctuant core
3. Carbuncles involve a coalition of furuncles
1. Deeper, more extensive involvement
2. Require greater degree of debridement"
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/boils.html
"Hair follicles that are blocked by greasy creams, petroleum jelly, or
similar products are more vulnerable to infection. Bacterial skin
infections can be spread by shared cosmetics or washcloths, close
human contact, or by contact with pus from a boil or carbuncle."
http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html
" Boils (also called furuncles) are caused by an infection of the hair
follicles with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
Most people with boils are otherwise healthy and have good personal
hygiene. They do however carry Staph. aureus on the surface of their
skins (Staph. carrier state). Why this occurs is usually not known,
but it is estimated that 10- 20% of the population are Staph.
carriers."
Reoccurance:
http://www.sch.edu.au/articles.asp?type=3&doc=14
"Children suffering from recurrent infection may habour the organism
in their nose and require a topical antibacterial such as Bactroban.
It may also be carried in the groin which can be washed with an
antiseptic soap such as Phisohex."
http://www.drmhijazy.com/english/chapters/chapter06.htm
"Furunculosis may become recurrent and constitute a problem to
patients especially in the groin, nasal cavity, scalp and external
auditory canal. The infection may be associated with constitutional
symptoms especially in newborn and children."
Treatment:
http://www.fpnotebook.com/DER113.htm
"Management: Recurrent Episodes
1. Optimize personal hygiene
2. Mupirocin (Bactroban)
1. Apply intranasally bid for 5 days
2. Reduces nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage
3. Systemic antibiotic protocols (10 day course)
1. Rifampin 600 mg PO qd and
2. Dicloxacillin 500 qid or Septra DS bid
4. Vitamin C 1 gram per day
1. Effective in those with impaired Neutrophil function"
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/boils.html
"If the patient has had several episodes of furunculosis, the doctor
may examine family members or close contacts to see if they are
carriers of S. aureus. In many cases they also need treatment for
boils or carbuncles. Skin infections and reinfections involving small
groups or clusters of people are being reported more frequently in the
United States."
"Carbuncles and furunculosis are usually treated with oral antibiotics
as well as antibiotic creams or ointments. The specific medications
that are given are usually dicloxacillin (Dynapen) or cephalexin
(Keflex). Erythromycin may be given to patients who are allergic to
penicillin. The usual course of oral antibiotics is 5-10 days;
however, patients with recurrent furunculosis may be given oral
antibiotics for longer periods. Furunculosis is treated with a
combination of dicloxacillin and rifampin (Rifadin)."
http://www.regentantiseptics.com/regentweb/products.nsf/print/betadineshampoo
Betadine Shampoo
"4.1. Therapeutic Indications, Seborrhoeic conditions of the scalp
associated with excessive dandruff, pruritis, scaling, exudation and
erythema of the scalp, pityriasis capitis; infected lesions of the
scalp - pyodermas (recurrent furunculosis, infective folliculitis and
impetigo). "
Location of Infection:
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/diseasemanagement/dermatology/commonskin/commonskin.htm
" Commonly affected areas are the beard, posterior neck, occipital
scalp, and axillae (Figure 2). Often a continuum of folliculitis,
furunculosis (furuncles) arises in hair-bearing areas as tender,
erythematous, fluctuant nodules that rupture with purulent discharge
(Figure 3)."
Misc. Info:
http://www.dubuisson.co.za/AntiBiotGuide/chapter16.htm
"Furunculosis Causes:
Usually due to Staphylococcus aureus. No antibiotic therapy is
necessary. The treatment of choice is surgical drainage.In most
persons with recurrent furunculosis (boils), the nares and the
perineum are usually the sites of Staphylococcus aureus carriage. In
such patients, diabetes mellitus should be excluded.
Therapeutic regimes which are effective for recurrent furunculosis
include:
Mupirocin ointment or cream applied topically to the nares, axillae,
and perineum for a 5 day period with or without one of the
following oral antibiotics:
Oral clindamycin 150 mg daily (in adults) for a 3-month
period
OR
Oral rifampicin 600 mg daily (in adults) for 7 - 10 days
OR
Oral cloxacillin 500 mg 6 hourly for 7 -10 days.
Best results have been obtained with clindamycin."
http://www.aadassociation.org/Guidelines/tineacapitis.html
"Tinea capitis may be misdiagnosed as alopecia areata,
trichotillomania, bacterial furunculosis, seborrheic dermatitis,
psoriasis, telogen effluvium, and atopic or seborrheic dermatitis. In
untreated cases, severe scarring with permanent hair loss may result.
This has psychosocial ramifications and may affect the social
adjustment and self-image of the child. Early diagnosis and
appropriate therapy are therefore critical in preventing scarring."
Search Terms used:
Furunculosis scalp
Reoccurant Furunculosis
Pediatric Furunculosis |
