Boil facts for kids

Boil is a word with two main meanings. It can mean the process of heating a liquid until it turns into a gas. It can also mean a type of skin infection, which is a painful lump on your skin.

What is Boiling?

Boiling is when a liquid gets hot enough to turn into a gas. This gas is called vapor or steam. When water boils, you see bubbles forming and rising to the surface. This happens because the water is changing into steam.

The Boiling Point

Every liquid has a special temperature where it starts to boil. This is called its boiling point. For example, pure water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) at sea level. If you are high up in the mountains, water boils at a slightly lower temperature. This is because the air pressure is different.

Why Do We Boil Things?

People boil liquids for many reasons.

• Cooking: We boil water to cook food like pasta, rice, or eggs. Boiling helps to make food soft and safe to eat.
• Making Drinks: We boil water to make hot drinks like tea or coffee.
• Cleaning and Sterilizing: Boiling water can kill germs. This is why people boil baby bottles or medical tools to make them clean and safe to use. It helps to prevent sickness.

What is a Boil (Skin Infection)?

A boil is a common skin infection. It looks like a red, swollen, and painful lump on your skin. It usually starts small and gets bigger over a few days. Boils are often filled with pus, which is a thick, yellowish liquid. They can appear anywhere on your body, but are most common on the face, neck, armpits, and buttocks.

What Causes a Boil?

Boils are usually caused by a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria often live harmlessly on our skin. However, if they get into a hair follicle (the small hole where a hair grows) or an oil gland, they can cause an infection. This can happen if the skin is broken, like from a cut or a scrape. Blocked hair follicles or sweat glands can also lead to boils.

How to Treat a Boil?

Most boils can be treated at home.

• Warm Compresses: Applying a warm, wet cloth to the boil several times a day can help it heal. The warmth helps the boil to come to a head and drain.
• Do Not Squeeze: It is important not to squeeze or pop a boil yourself. This can push the infection deeper into the skin or spread it to other areas. It can also make the infection worse.
• Keep it Clean: Always wash your hands before and after touching a boil. Keep the area around the boil clean.
• When to See a Doctor: If a boil is very large, very painful, or does not go away, you should see a doctor. A doctor might need to drain the boil safely or prescribe medicine to fight the infection.

See also

In Spanish: Forúnculo para niños