Physician links boils to immune deficiency

An Abuja based medical practitioner, Dr Okezie Emenike, on Friday, said frequent boils on the body could be a sign of deficiency in the immune system.
Emenike said this in Abuja.
He described boil as an inflamed pus-filled swelling on the skin which could be caused by bacterial infection that started from the hair follicle.
According to him, most boils are caused by a germ known as staphylococcal bacteria that enters the body through cuts in the skin.
He also said that people that suffered from diabetes, obesity and those using immune suppressive drugs were at the risk of developing boils.
The physician identified poor hygiene, poor nutrition and poor immune system such as HIV/AIDS as contributory factors that could lead to the development of boils.
Emenike added that the exposure of human beings to harsh chemicals that irritate their skins could also predispose them to develop boil.
He added that alcoholism, resistance to antibiotics and family history is factors that could cause the infection.
The medical doctor, however, said that the public could prevent being attacked by boil by staying healthy and practising good personal hygiene.
He also advised them to be washing the clothes, bedding and towels of boil-infected-family members to prevent the transmission of the infection to others.
Besides, the physician encouraged the proper treatment of minor skin wounds to prevent development of boils.
However, Emenike said that the treatment of boils should start with the cause of the boil, adding that putting warm towel on the boil could help treat it.
He also recommended the use of appropriate antibiotics to help treat the bacteria that caused the infection.
The medic advised patients treating boil to clean the affected area two or three times daily with antibacterial soap and apply antibiotic ointment until the wound would have been fully healed.
He advised patients taking medications that help to suppress the immune system and those with diabetes to seek urgent medical help if they develop boils.