Paronychia is inflammation of the skin around a finger or toenail. It can be acute (< 6 weeks) or chronic (persisting > 6 weeks). Paronychia is also called whitlow . It may be associated with felon (infection of the pulp of the fingertip).
What is a whitlow nail infection?
Whitlow is a very painful and infectious viral disease of the thumb and fingertips . Rarely, it infects the toes and nail cuticle. It is a self-limiting disease and it is of two types – Herpetic Whitlow and Melanotic Whitlow. Herpetic whitlow is more prevalent of the two. It is a disease of the hand.
What is whitlow called?
A whitlow is a painful and highly contagious infection on the fingers caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is also known as herpetic whitlow . There are two types of herpes simplex virus—type 1 and type 2—and both can cause herpetic whitlow.
What is paronychia Recognised by?
In most cases, a doctor can diagnose paronychia simply by observing it. Your doctor may send a sample of pus from your infection to a lab if treatment doesn’t seem to be helping.
What type of infection is a whitlow?
Herpetic whitlow (whitlow finger) is a painful infection of the finger caused by the herpes virus . It’s easily treated but can come back.
Why is whitlow so painful?
Herpetic whitlow, or whitlow finger, is a painful infection caused by the herpes simplex virus . There are different strains of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), including HSV-1, the main cause of cold sores, and HSV-2, the main cause of genital herpes. Both of these strains can cause herpetic whitlow.
What does a whitlow look like?
Small (1–3 mm) fluid-filled blisters develop , often clustered together on a bright red base. The blisters usually rupture and scab over, leading to complete healing after an additional 2 weeks. Other symptoms occasionally associated with the primary infection of herpetic whitlow include: Fever.
How do I get rid of a whitlow on my finger?
- taking a pain reliever — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — to help reduce pain and fever.
- applying a cold compress several times a day to help reduce swelling.
- cleaning the affected area daily and covering it with gauze.
How long does a whitlow last?
While these vesicles are present, herpetic whitlow is extremely contagious. About 2 weeks after vesicles first appear, a crust forms over them. This signals the end of viral shedding. If untreated, the infection usually resolves in 3 to 4 weeks .
Is whitlow a bacterial infection?
Whitlow is an infection of a finger or around the fingernails, generally caused by bacterium . However, in rare cases, it may also be caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Can you lose a finger from infection?
Injury or infection to a finger or fingers is a common problem. Infection can range from mild to potentially serious. Often, these infections start out small and are relatively easy to treat. Failure to properly treat these infections can result in permanent disability or loss of the finger.
Can you get a whitlow from biting your nails?
A medical expert, Dr Festus Olalekan, has warned Nigerians against biting their finger nails, saying it could result in skin infection, especially whitlow.
What is the treatment for finger infection?
The mainstay of treatment for finger infections is antibiotics and proper wound care . The proper wound care varies for each of the different infections. This can range from a simple incision and drainage of the wound to an extensive surgical exploration of the wound to remove as much infected material as possible.
What is the fastest way to get rid of paronychia?
If you have acute paronychia, soaking the infected nail in warm water 3 to 4 times a day can help reduce pain and swelling. It should heal up in a few days. If the infection is very painful, doesn’t get better with home care, or has a pus-filled abscess, you may need to see your doctor.
When is paronychia serious?
The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Most of the time, paronychia is not serious and can be treated at home. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the rest of the finger or toe and lead to a deeper infection that may need a doctor’s help.
Which ointment is best for paronychia?
| Drug Typical dosage | Bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B ointment (Neosporin) Three times daily for five to 10 days | Gentamicin ointment Three or four times daily for five to 10 days | Mupirocin ointment (Bactroban) Two to four times daily for five to 10 days |
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