Boils can be extremely painful for young children and they are most commonly caused by bacterial infection due to the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In medical terms these boils are referred to as "furuncles" and usually appear as round bumps filled with pus or blood. A boil caused by bacterial infection usually begins deep within the root of the hair follicle and works its way to the skin surface. Although such boils appear suddenly, they can be red, tender, sore to the touch and extremely painful. Do not induce draining of the boil on its own as the infection is likely to spread elsewhere on the skin.
Ensure that your child does not suffer from fever and (swollen lymph nodes) swelling of the lymph glands, close to where the boil is situated. If the boil is left untouched, it is likely to open and drain on its own within a fortnight. You may seek treatment for it with the help of your child's pediatrician who will help in reducing the size of the boil and contain its severe symptoms.
Ensure that your child does not scratch the affected area at the site of infection as the bacteria can spread to the surrounding skin. If the infection spreads to the nearby area, the resulting boils are referred to as carbuncles. One natural way of reducing the intensity of the symptoms and the growth of the boil is to apply a warm compress directly onto the affected area. A clean piece of cloth that has been soaked in warm water must be applied on the affected boil after the cloth has been wrung of excess water. Keep applying the warm moist compresses on the boil for 2 - 5 times a day over the tender region to encourage easy drainage and prevent re-infection. Washing the affected area with a mild antibacterial cleanser and applying antibiotic lotions prescribed by child's pediatrician can also help in getting rid of the bacteria and preventing further infection.
Try to subtly incorporate garlic in your child's diet, as garlic is believed to be a highly efficient antiseptic in detoxifying the body. Most importantly, ensure that the child is habitual to good bowel movements daily. Constipation is believed to cause skin problems, when the waste matter is not effectively removed from the body. Your child must drink a good amount of water every day and also have plenty of fiber in the form of fresh fruit and green vegetables. Ensure that your child avoids sugary food items and processed or refined foods, as these provide minimal nutrition and also contain very little fiber.