What Is a Furuncle?
6. What Is the Difference Between a Furuncle and a Carbuncle?
A carbuncle is an infection similar to a furuncle except that it affects several hair follicles in close proximity to one another. Another way of describing a carbuncle is as several furuncles all grouped together. For this reason, the lesion in the skin caused by a carbuncle is often much larger than that caused by a furuncle.
A carbuncle is a deeper, more serious infection than a furuncle alone. While you can often manage a furuncle on your own, a carbuncle requires treatment from a doctor. While the symptoms of a carbuncle are similar to those of a furuncle, they may also be accompanied by general signs of infection such as chills and a fever of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
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