A furuncle is best described as what?

• A. Abscess with pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
• B. Red rash
• C. Crusty lesion
• D. Open sore

Answer: (A)

A furuncle is a boil—an infection that starts in a hair follicle and extends into the surrounding tissue, forming an abscess filled with pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue. This description captures its central features: a localized, sometimes painful lump with a purulent center and nearby redness from the inflammatory response. It’s driven mainly by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.

This differs from a red rash, which is typically diffuse and not a discrete pus-filled lump; a crusty lesion implies dried surface exudate without the central purulent collection; and an open sore refers to a superficial or ulcerated area, not specifically a pus-filled abscess around a hair follicle. Furuncles can occasionally be related to carbuncles when several boil lesions merge.