Anyone can develop a boil.
Some of the following conditions can increase the risk of your child getting boils:
You should see a health professional if:
Sometimes, a boil can turn into an abscess. This is a large, deep boil. If you think your child's boil has become an abscess, take them to see a health professional. This may need hospital treatment.
See a health professional urgently if:
You can treat most boils at home, especially if you notice them early.
To help the boil open up and drain, try using a warm facecloth. Put it on the boil for several minutes. Do this a few times a day. Always wash your hands before and after touching the boil.
Boils can spread very easily. If the boil opens on its own and drains, wipe away the pus or blood with a clean cloth. Wash and dry the area well and then cover it with a plaster. This stops it from spreading and stops your child from scratching it. Wash and dry your hands before and after touching the boil.
Wash your child all over with warm soapy water or use an antiseptic solution such as Savlon or Dettol. Follow the directions on the bottle for making the solution. Use a separate towel and facecloth for your child. Wash used towels often, in hot water, along with clothing worn close to the skin.
Squeezing the boil into the surrounding skin can cause a more serious infection and will be painful.
If other boils appear or the boil gets bigger or more painful, take your child to a health professional.
Most tamariki will not need any medicine.
Give your child paracetamol, if needed, to help with the soreness. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
Your health professional may prescribe antibiotic medicine. If your child needs to take antibiotics, follow the instructions and take them until they are finished. Do not stop the antibiotics early.
If your child's boil has become an abscess, they may need an operation.
During the operation
Your child will need a general anaesthetic because it is painful.
The surgeon will cut (incise) the abscess, remove the pus and put a sterile dressing over the cut to absorb any draining pus.
Your child may need antibiotics through an intravenous drip (into a vein).
After the operation
Your child will not usually need to stay in hospital.
If your child has a dressing, the healthcare team at the hospital will give you instructions about what to do. It's important not to get the dressing wet.
Sometimes tamariki can suffer from recurrent boils, which can spread to other household members. This is usually because a child carries a strain of bacteria that can easily cause infection of any broken skin (minor cuts and scrapes). It's important to treat all household members with skin infections to stop the infection spreading.
Your doctor may take a swab of the boil to see what treatment is best.
This may include strategies like:
See the KidsHealth page about bleach baths [1].
Your doctor may also suggest:
This page last reviewed 31 October 2023.
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Links
[1] https://kidshealth.org.nz/when-how-use-bleach-baths-your-child-eczema
[2] https://kidshealth.org.nz/how-stop-skin-infections
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/skin-infections-what-do
[4] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1670%3Flanguage%3Dton