Carbuncle is a spreading infection below the skin which causes the tissues to die (necrosis). The characteristics of it is that there are many openings which have pus or blood discharging from its centre. The centre may be soft but otherwise the surrounding tissue is firm and inflammed and the skin becomes warm and red. The condition commonly occurs among those with diabetes mellitus and the treatment is surgical with antibiotics administration.

The comonest surgical procedure is called saucerization in which the whole infected and dead tissue is excised leaving a large clean cavity which would require daily dressing for the wound to heal on its own.

Below is a young diabetic lady who had many similar episode and never learns that her diabetes and her sugar control is of utmost importance.

This is an elderly lady with diabetes who kept the infection for about 2 weeks and presented ill with sepsis.

This is another elderly lady who did not have diabetes but had a huge colllection of pus after a wound infection which she kept for so long that it extended down to her labia.