Carbuncle

For other uses, see Carbuncle (disambiguation).

Carbuncle
Carbuncle on buttock of a diabetic person
Classification and external resources
Pronunciation	/ˈkɑːbʌŋkəl/ or /ˈkɑːrbʌŋkəl/
Specialty	Dermatology
ICD-10	L02
ICD-9-CM	680.9
DiseasesDB	29434
MedlinePlus	000825
MeSH	D002270

A carbuncle is a cluster of boils, draining pus onto the skin. It is usually caused by bacterial infection, most commonly with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, which can turn lethal. However, the presence of a carbuncle is actually a sign that the immune system is active and fighting the infection responsible for the carbuncle.^[1] The infection is contagious and may spread to other areas of the body, or other people; those living in the same residence may develop carbuncles at the same time.

Signs and symptoms

A carbuncle is made up of several skin boils. The infected mass is filled with fluid, pus and dead tissue. Fluid may drain out of the carbuncle, but sometimes the mass is so deep that it cannot drain on its own. Carbuncles may develop anywhere, but they are most common on the back and the nape of the neck.

The carbuncle may be the size of a pea or as large as a golf ball. It may be red and irritated, and might hurt when touched. It may also grow very fast and have a white or yellow center. It may crust or spread to other skin areas. Sometimes other symptoms may occur, such as fatigue, fever and a general discomfort or sick feeling. Itching may occur before the carbuncle develops.

Causes

The initial cause of a carbuncle can often not be determined. Triggers that make carbuncle infections more likely include rashes such as folliculitis; friction from clothing or shaving; having hair pulled out, such as sites where clothing or furniture grab at hairs; generally poor hygiene; poor nutrition; or weakening of immunity. Poor health may be an important factor – for example, persons with diabetes and immune system diseases are more likely to develop infections (especially bacterial infections of the leg or foot).

Society and culture

Etymology

The word is believed to have originated from the Latin: carbunculus, originally a small coal; diminutive of carbon-, carbo: charcoal or ember, but also a carbuncle stone, "precious stones of a red or fiery colour", usually garnets.^[2]

Monstrous carbuncle

In 1984 Charles, Prince of Wales famously described the proposed Sainsbury Wing extension to the National Gallery in London as a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend",^[3] a term now widely used to describe architecture, particularly modernist architecture, unsympathetic to its surroundings.^[4]^[5]

References

↑ "Carbuncle – PubMed Health". National Institute of Health. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
↑ OED, "Carbuncle": 1) stone, 3) medical
↑ "A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
↑ "Prince's new architecture blast". BBC News. 2005-02-21. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
↑ "No cash for 'highest slum'". BBC News. 2001-02-09. Retrieved 2007-06-16.

Bacterial skin disease (L00–L08, 680–686)

Gram +ve

Firmicutes	Staphylococcus Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Impetigo Toxic shock syndrome Streptococcus Impetigo Cutaneous group B streptococcal infection Streptococcal intertrigo Cutaneous Streptococcus iniae infection Erysipelas / Chronic recurrent erysipelas Scarlet fever Corynebacterium Erythrasma Listeriosis Clostridium Gas gangrene Dermatitis gangrenosa Mycoplasma Erysipeloid of Rosenbach

Actinobacteria	Mycobacterium-related: Aquarium granuloma Borderline lepromatous leprosy Borderline leprosy Borderline tuberculoid leprosy Buruli ulcer Erythema induratum Histoid leprosy Lepromatous leprosy Leprosy Lichen scrofulosorum Lupus vulgaris Miliary tuberculosis Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection Mycobacterium haemophilum infection Mycobacterium kansasii infection Papulonecrotic tuberculid Primary inoculation tuberculosis Rapid growing mycobacterium infection Scrofuloderma Tuberculosis cutis orificialis Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis Tuberculous cellulitis Tuberculous gumma Tuberculoid leprosy Cutaneous actinomycosis Nocardiosis Cutaneous diphtheria infection Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection Group JK corynebacterium sepsis

Gram -ve

Proteobacteria	α: Endemic typhus Epidemic typhus Scrub typhus North Asian tick typhus Queensland tick typhus Flying squirrel typhus Trench fever Bacillary angiomatosis African tick bite fever American tick bite fever Rickettsia aeschlimannii infection Rickettsialpox Rocky Mountain spotted fever Human granulocytotropic anaplasmosis Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis Flea-borne spotted fever Japanese spotted fever Mediterranean spotted fever Flinders Island spotted fever Verruga peruana Brill–Zinsser disease Brucellosis Cat-scratch disease Oroya fever Ehrlichiosis ewingii infection β: Gonococcemia/Gonorrhea/Primary gonococcal dermatitis Melioidosis Cutaneous Pasteurella hemolytica infection Meningococcemia Glanders Chromobacteriosis infection γ: Pasteurellosis Tularemia Vibrio vulnificus Rhinoscleroma Haemophilus influenzae cellulitis Pseudomonal pyoderma / Pseudomonas hot-foot syndrome / Hot tub folliculitis / Ecthyma gangrenosum / Green nail syndrome Q fever Salmonellosis Shigellosis Plague Granuloma inguinale Chancroid Aeromonas infection ε: Helicobacter cellulitis

Other	Syphilid Syphilis Chancre Yaws Pinta Bejel Chlamydia infection Leptospirosis Rat-bite fever Lyme disease Lymphogranuloma venereum

Unspecified
pathogen

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