Boil natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yamuna Kondapally, M.B.B.S[2]

If left untreated, patients with boils (furuncles) may progress to develop carbuncles, fever, and lymphadenopathy. The most common complications of boils include scarring and recurrence. Other complications include septicemia leading to abscess of spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organs. The prognosis is generally good, however, it varies with underlying risk factors.

• If left untreated, patients with boils may progress to develop carbuncles, fever and lymphadenopathy. The most common complications of boils include scarring and recurrence. Other rare complications are bacteremia, fever, and abscess of spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organs.
• Recurrent furunculosis is commonly caused by methicillin susceptible staphylococcus aureus however Panton-Valentine leukocidin staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) and community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is the leading cause of severe infection.^[1][2][3]

Common complications of furuncles include:^{[4][2][5][6][7]}

• Permanent scarring
• Recurrence
• Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organ
• Endocarditis
• Osteomyelitis
• Sepsis
• Infection of brain
• Infection of spinal cord
• Spread of infection to other parts of body or skin surfaces

• Prognosis is generally good and a full recovery is expected.^[6]
• The prognosis varies with underlying risk factors or subsequent complications.

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