Boils and Carbuncles: Possible Causes

Boils and carbuncles develop when the hair follicles are badly infected with the staph bacteria, also known as Staphylococcus aureus. These infections can occur in one or even more hair follicles thereby resulting in bumpy boils and carbuncles that can be painful.

The staphylococcus aureus bacteria inhabits in the skin, nasal passages and throat, and are often responsible for causing some serious disease as well, such s meningitis, pneumonia, endocarditis and urinary tract infections.

Staph bacteria become the cause of boils and carbuncles when it enters out body through a cut, a scratch or breaking skin. This is a very commonly occurring disease in people. As the bacteria enters the body to form an infection, the white blood cells reach the site of infection to fight it and prevent the body from a serious disease; this causes swelling, pain and gradually leads to pus formation as well, which is a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells and bacteria.

As boils are commonly seen in children and adults alike, it is one of the few conditions that people take less seriously until of course the pain becomes unbearable. It is advised to seek medical help as soon as you notice boils. If left untreated the bacteria might affect the major parts of the body to cause infection.