Boils and Kids

Certainly, no one wants to get boils. Children are especially sensitive about this issue, as they don't want to be teased in school or have something uncomfortable on their skin. Should your child get boils, it is important to know about how to treat the problem and how to deal with his boils.

Children More Prone to Boils

Boils actually occur in children more than they do in adults. This is because of their active lifestyle which often puts them into contact with things that scratch them. Your children may not tell you that they have a boil - either because they aren't aware of it or because they don't realize that it's something that they need to share. If your child does complain about pain in a certain area of the body, you can check to see if he has a boil. For younger children, you'll probably realize that he has a boil when you give him a bath.

How To Treat Boils in Children

Unless the boil is on the face, it can usually be treated at home. There are a number of methods that work to take care of boils and that won't put the child through too much pain. You can apply hot, wet compresses with a moist towel to the boil for three minutes at a time, ten times a day, according to Paul Rehder, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist from Oxnard, California. You want to bring the boil to a head so that the pus will then begin to drain. After the drainage does begin, continue using the compresses for three additional days. Once the boil comes to a head and has only a think layer of skin over the pus, you can use a flame-sterilized needle and put this through the boil to relieve the pus. Make sure, however that there is no redness or swelling around the boil before you do the pricking. Finally, when the boil drains, you should wash the boil and the surrounding area with soap to prevent further infection. You should teach your children good hygiene, as well, making sure that they bathe often and that they reach all areas of their bodies with soap when they do bathe.

What Not To Do

It may be difficult for children to resist poking at the boil, but you need to stress to them that they should not. If they poke, squeeze or pinch the boil, it can spread infection and cause scarring. Once the boil begins to heal, make sure that your children avoid oily products. These products can plug the skin and create more boils and more problems. If your child tends to get boils often, he should use an antibacterial soap on a regular basis.

Boils on the Face

If your child's boils are on the face, then you need to see a doctor. The bacteria from boils on the face can spread into the blood, sinuses and even trigger meningitis. Facial boils can be very dangerous, and your child should immediately see a doctor if he has one of this sort.

Other Areas for Concern

In addition to boils on the face, there are two other reasons to seek medical attention. If the boil is a deep red color or it has red streaks running from it to another area of the body, you need to seek medical attention. These signs could indicate an infection that has spread. If your child is having trouble moving the area of the body where the boil is, or if he complains that he's in a lot of pain due to the boil, then you should also check with a doctor.

Hopefully, this boil is simply one of the many things your child and you will deal with. You can hope that it will be taken care of quickly and easily - and then you can go back to worrying about all of the other things that children keep us up at night for!