Boil on face

[AmandaKDT]

I had a 17 month old dcg come this morning with a boil on the side of her face. The skin is unbroken and not draining any fluid, but the mom says it is from a staph infection and if it doesn't go away or start draining then the doctor is going to have to lance it. The mom is applying an antibiotic ointment at home and told me it wasn't contagious when I asked. This child just got overa viral Infection that resulted in her having a fever for over a week.

My question is has anyone dealt with this before? My concern is that if the boil bursts and starts leaking out the infection that she is going to be infectious and be spreading the bacteria at daycare.

[mickyc]

I haven't had to deal with anything like this but I would suggest that if it does burst then call mom to pick up at that time. She has taken the child to the doctor so it is something they have had looked at.

[Secondtimearound]

I'm pretty sure boils are contagious !!! I would send her home !i think I read that the boil is not but the infection that causes the boil is !!!!especially the pus .

[AmandaKDT]

Thanks for your input. I ended up talking to my mom last night, who is a Registered Nurse, and she said not to worry about it. It isn't any worse than having a really bad pimple and I shouldn't be worried about it being contagious or infectious. So that made me feel better. She said if it burst to just put a bandage on it.