How long do boils last if left untreated?

Answer 1

You need to get it treated. Boils are actually a staph or strep infection called cellulitis. Cellulitis, if left untreated, can enter your bloodstream and cause septicemia (blood poisoning).

If you go in, what they will do is lance and drain it, and then pack it with sterile gauze. The gauze needs to stay in for a couple of days, and then it can be removed. At the same time, you will also be on antibiotics. Even with all of that, it can still take about two to three weeks to heal completely.

Go to the doctor. Don't count on one to go away by itself. If you catch it early enough, they may not even need to drain it.

Answer 2

1 year

Answer 3

Eventually a boil will come to a head. It will erupt, and when it does it's becomes very contagious. You have to keep it as clean as possible. It can be spread then, and can even turn into a staff infection. Which can be deadly. If you go to a doctor they may put you on an antibiotic to kill the skin infection before it comes to a head. Or they may wait until it comes to a head, lance it (make a very small incision on the head) , and then drain it of all it's infection. I would go to a doctor being that staff infection is on the rise.

Answer 4

if it is a boil ,some last about a week,but so don't come to a head right and have to be lanced.it could also be a spider bite,they look the same ,but are way worse .if it isn't better in a couple days see a doctor.

Answer 5

Most have to be removed, but try a salt pack on a warm washcloth, that might draw out the pus, 3 times a day for 20 to 30 minutes

Answer 6

Untreated a boil can last upto three weeks or more and get really infected.The sites below will tell you everything you ever want to know a bout boils:

http://www.medicinenet.com/boils/article.htm

http://www.healthline.com/search?q1=boils&utm_medium=google&utm_source=serp2&utm_campaign=serp&utm_term=boils

Answer 7

Should be lanced by a Dr. You can soak it several times a day ,with antibacterial soap ,moisten a small towel with warm water, put the soap [antibacterial] on the towel wrap the area with the towel,then wrap a plastic trash bag around the moist towel, then lay a heating pad over the area,on the plastic bag . this should help the infection come to the surface of the skin .
1moist towel
2antibacterial soap
3plastic bag
4heating pad
5several times per day
6see a Dr.

Answer 8

They usually pop within 24 hours, but if it comes back, u need to see a doctor and get antibiotics. I would get them now actually. Boils are fighting off some type of infection you "may" have (probably nothing serious whatsover), so you may want to check into getting the medication (antibiotics).

Answer 9

until they fester up so bad with infection and cause you such extreme pain and fever that you have to see a doctor.

Not a good idea to wait and see. Get boils treated by a physician. Much better then getting gangrene and suffering for any length of time.

Answer 10

It is easy to treat them with stuff right from your fridge or garden. A tomato takes the heat out of them. Mixing sugar, with lemon juice into a poltice and using a silver coin like quarter, and wrapping them up, draws the head out over night.