clinical features

Last reviewed 11/2022

  • presentation:
    • more common in women - affects women 2-5x more than men; average age of onset 23 years of age
    • most commonly affects the groins and axillae - less often affects the perianal region, inframammary region, suprapubic region or in the abdominal folds
    • early symptoms may include discomfort, itching, erythema, burning, and hyperhidrosis
    • typical lesion is a painful inflammatory nodule, papule or abscess. Sometimes comedomes or dermal contractures can occur. Up to 1/3 of all boils remain blind and fail to discharge
    • nodules may contain malodorous, superinfected discharge (1)

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