By Samantha Semoso – EMTV Online
Your baby may be affected with boils regularly, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with their immune system. Unless there is a recurring pattern with your baby’s other infections, it is very unusual for your baby’s immune system to be at fault.
There are various bacteria and germs that live on the surface of our skin and also in our intestines. This is known as colonisation.
If recurrent boils affect your baby, it may mean that your baby is colonised with staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria. These bacteria are passed very easily from person to person. It is very common that your baby keeps picking up the infection from someone in the house, or close proximity.
How to Prevent or Reduce Recurrence of Boils
Once you notice the appearance of a boil on your baby’s skin, try doing the following to help ease your baby’s pain:
- Make sure you clean the boil properly everyday
- Soak a clean cloth or towel in warm water and place it on the boil for about 10 minutes or as long as your baby allows without applying pressure.
- If the boil bursts, add a few drops of antiseptic liquid to water, use sterilised cotton to dip into the water and use to clean the boil area
The boil should fade within eight to 10 days of appearance depending if you keep the baby’s boil areas clean. A boil can be quite painful, but will soon go away on its own. If it persists for more than 10 days or is always coming back, see a doctor.
