NHS Choices Condition
Content supplied by NHS Choices
Spread of infection
If you have a boil, the bacteria could spread into other parts of your body and cause secondary infections.
Cellulitis is a common secondary infection that is associated with boils. This occurs in the deeper layers of the skin and can be treated with antibiotics.
Some less common, but more serious, secondary infections include:
- septic arthritis (infection of a joint),
- endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart), and
- septicemia (infection of the blood, commonly known as blood poisoning).
All three conditions could be very serious and, if you develop them, will usually require admission to hospital so that you can be treated with antibiotic injections (intravenous antibiotics).
See Useful links for more information about cellulitis, endocarditis and blood poisoning.
Back to the Embarrassing Bodies Condition Guide or view information about Boils on www.nhs.co.uk »Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
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