What are the different types of infected thumb? What causes an infected thumb? How to treat an infected thumb? Get answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide on infected thumb pictures, symptoms, and home remedies.

Understanding Infected Thumb: An Overview

An infected thumb, also known as paronychia, is a common condition that involves the inflammation of the skin around the nail. This can happen due to a variety of reasons, such as injury, infection, or chronic irritation. Infected thumbs can be painful, swollen, and even lead to pus-filled blisters if left untreated. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of infected thumbs, their causes, treatment options, and effective home remedies.

Types of Infected Thumbs

Infected thumbs can be categorized into two main types: acute paronychia and chronic paronychia.

Acute Paronychia

Acute paronychia is a sudden and severe inflammation of the skin around the nail. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection, often due to a minor injury or trauma to the area, such as biting or picking at the skin around the nail. Symptoms of acute paronychia include redness, swelling, pain, and, in some cases, the formation of a pus-filled blister.

Chronic Paronychia

Chronic paronychia is a long-term inflammation of the skin around the nail. It is often caused by repeated exposure to irritants, such as frequent hand washing, exposure to chemicals, or a fungal infection. Symptoms of chronic paronychia include redness, swelling, and a thickened, discolored nail.

Causes of Infected Thumbs

There are several potential causes of an infected thumb, including:

Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections, often caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria, are the most common cause of acute paronychia. These infections can occur due to minor injuries, such as hangnails or cuts around the nail.

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections, such as candida, can lead to chronic paronychia. These infections are often associated with excessive moisture or humidity around the nails.

Chronic Irritation

Repeated exposure to irritants, such as frequent hand washing, exposure to chemicals, or poorly fitting nail polish, can also cause chronic paronychia.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Certain underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system, can increase the risk of developing an infected thumb.

Symptoms of Infected Thumbs

The symptoms of an infected thumb can vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Common symptoms include:

• Redness and swelling around the nail
• Pain or tenderness in the affected area
• Warmth or heat around the nail
• Pus-filled blisters or abscesses
• Thickening or discoloration of the nail

Treatment for Infected Thumbs

The treatment for an infected thumb depends on the type and severity of the condition. Treatment options may include:

Acute Paronychia

For acute paronychia, treatment typically involves the following:

• Soaking the affected area in warm water several times a day to promote drainage and reduce swelling
• Applying antibiotic ointments or creams to the affected area
• Taking oral antibiotics, if the infection is severe
• Draining any pus-filled blisters or abscesses, if necessary

Chronic Paronychia

For chronic paronychia, treatment may involve:

• Avoiding irritants and keeping the area dry
• Applying topical antifungal or steroid creams to the affected area
• Taking oral antifungal medications, if necessary
• Addressing any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the infection

Home Remedies for Infected Thumbs

In addition to medical treatment, there are several home remedies that can help manage the symptoms of an infected thumb:

Warm Water Soaks

Soaking the affected thumb in warm water several times a day can help reduce swelling and promote drainage.

Tea Tree Oil

Applying a small amount of tea tree oil to the affected area can have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help alleviate symptoms.

Epsom Salt

Adding Epsom salt to the warm water soak can help draw out any pus or fluid buildup and reduce inflammation.

Aloe Vera

Applying aloe vera gel to the affected area can have a soothing and moisturizing effect, which may help with the discomfort.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help reduce pain and inflammation.

When to Seek Medical Attention

It’s important to seek medical attention if the infected thumb is not improving with home treatment or if the infection appears to be getting worse. Signs that an infected thumb may require medical intervention include:

• Severe pain, redness, or swelling that is not improving
• Fever or chills
• Pus or drainage that is not clearing up
• Difficulty moving the affected finger
• If the infection is spreading to other parts of the hand or arm

Early medical treatment can help prevent the infection from worsening and potentially causing more serious complications, such as a bone or joint infection.

Preventing Infected Thumbs

To help prevent the development of an infected thumb, it’s important to take the following precautions:

• Avoid biting, picking, or tearing the skin around the nails
• Keep the hands and nails clean and well-manicured
• Wear gloves when working with chemicals or irritants
• Maintain good hygiene, including frequent hand washing
• Treat any minor injuries or cuts around the nails promptly
• Manage any underlying medical conditions that may increase the risk of infection

By taking these preventative measures, you can help reduce the risk of developing an infected thumb and minimize the potential for more serious complications.

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Paronychia cephalotes

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Staph infections – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These types of germs are commonly found on the skin or in the nose of many healthy people. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections.

Treatment usually involves antibiotics and cleaning of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics. To treat antibiotic-resistant staph infections, health care providers may need to use antibiotics that can cause more side effects.

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Symptoms

Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to life-threatening illness. For example, endocarditis, a serious infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium) can be caused by staph bacteria. Signs and symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

Staph infection

infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.

Skin infections

Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

• Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil. This is a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen.

  If a boil breaks open, it will probably drain pus. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.

• Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can be caused by staph bacteria. Impetigo usually has large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust.
• Cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin. It causes redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores or areas of oozing discharge may develop, too.
• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Toxins produced by the staph bacteria may cause staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Affecting mostly babies and children, this condition includes a fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off. This leaves a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Food poisoning

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of food poisoning. The bacteria multiply in food and produce toxins that make you sick. Symptoms come on quickly, usually within hours of eating a contaminated food. Symptoms usually disappear quickly, too, often lasting just half a day.

A staph infection in food usually doesn’t cause a fever. Signs and symptoms you can expect with this type of staph infection include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure

Bacteremia

Also known as a bloodstream infection, bacteremia occurs when staph bacteria enter the bloodstream. A fever and low blood pressure are signs of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to locations deep within your body to cause infections that affect:

• Internal organs, such as your brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis) or lungs (pneumonia)
• Bones and muscles
• Surgically implanted devices, such as artificial joints or cardiac pacemakers

Toxic shock syndrome

This life-threatening condition results from toxins produced by some strains of staph bacteria. The condition has been linked to certain types of tampons, skin wounds and surgery. It usually develops suddenly with:

• A high fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• A rash on your palms and soles that looks like a sunburn
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria often target the knees, shoulders, hips, and fingers or toes. Artificial joints may also be at risk of infection. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Joint swelling
• Severe pain in the affected joint
• Fever

When to see a doctor

Go to your health care provider if you or your child has:

• An area of red, irritated or painful skin
• Pus-filled blisters
• Fever

You may also want to talk to your provider if:

• Skin infections are being passed from one family member to another
• Two or more family members have skin infections at the same time

Causes

Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their nose and never develop staph infections. However, if you develop a staph infection, there’s a good chance that it’s from bacteria you’ve been carrying around for some time.

Staph bacteria can also be spread from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on objects such as pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.

Staph bacteria can make you sick by causing an infection. You can also become sick from the toxins produced by the bacteria.

Staph bacteria can survive:

• Drying
• Extremes of temperature
• Stomach acid

Risk factors

Many factors — including the health of your immune system or the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Underlying health conditions

Certain disorders or the medications used to treat them can make you more likely to get staph infections. People who may be more likely to get a staph infection include those with:

• Diabetes who use insulin
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney failure requiring dialysis
• Weakened immune systems — either from a disease or medications that suppress the immune system
• A transplant
• Cancer, especially those who are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation
• Skin damage from conditions such as eczema, insect bites or minor trauma that opens the skin
• Lung (respiratory) illness, such as cystic fibrosis or emphysema

Current or recent hospitalization

Despite strong attempts to get rid of them, staph bacteria stay present in hospitals, where they can infect people who are most at risk of infection. This can include people with:

• Weakened immune systems
• Burns
• Surgical wounds

Sometimes people admitted to the hospital may be screened to see if they’re carrying staph bacteria. Screening is done using a nasal swab. Treatment to get rid of the bacteria may be given to help prevent infection and decrease the spread to others.

Invasive and implanted devices

Staph bacteria can get into the body by traveling along medical tubing. These devices make a connection between the outside and the inside of your body. Examples are:

• Urinary catheters
• Tubing placed in a vein (intravenous catheters)

Also, staph bacteria are attracted to implanted devices, where they grow on the surface and cause infection. These include surgically implanted devices such as:

• Artificial joints
• Cardiac pacemakers

Contact sports

Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, scrapes and skin-to-skin contact. Staph infections may also spread in the locker room through shared razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

Unsanitary food preparation

Food handlers who don’t properly wash their hands can transfer staph bacteria from their skin to the food they’re preparing. The bacteria multiply in the food and produce toxins that make you sick. Cooking can kill the bacteria. But the toxins are still in the food. Foods that are contaminated with staph bacteria do not look or taste differently.

Complications

If staph bacteria invade your bloodstream, you may develop a type of infection that affects your entire body. Called sepsis, this infection can lead to septic shock. This is a life-threatening episode when your blood pressure drops to an extremely low level.

Staph infections can also turn deadly if the bacteria invade deep into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.

Prevention

These commonsense precautions can help lower your risk of getting staph infections:

• Wash your hands. Thorough hand washing is your best defense against germs. Wash your hands with soap and water briskly for at least 20 seconds. Then dry them with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren’t visibly dirty or you aren’t able to wash your hands, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, such as before, during and after making food; after handling raw meat or poultry; before eating; after using the bathroom; and after touching an animal or animal waste.

• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria. Keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Reduce tampon risks. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by staph bacteria. Tampons left in for long periods can grow staph bacteria. You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently — at least every 4 to 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can. Try to alternate tampons with sanitary napkins whenever possible.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread on objects, as well as from person to person.
• Wash clothing and bedding. Staph bacteria can spread on clothing, towels and bedding. To remove bacteria, wash and dry items at the warmest temperature recommended by the items’ labels. It’s OK if you can’t use hot water, as using detergent in your wash is enough to make items clean and safe for use. You can use bleach on any bleach-safe materials.
• Take food safety precautions. Wash your hands before handling food. If food will be out for a while, make sure that hot foods stay hot — above 140 F (60 C). Make sure that cold foods stay at 40 F (4.4 C) or below. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible. Wash cutting boards and counters with soap and water.

The doctor spoke about modern methods of treating hallux valgus

nina bashkirova

Health
June 30, 2022

“Braces won’t help – only surgery!” – Trauma surgeon at the Elizabethan Hospital Yevgeny Kaptyal is categorical, because he has been correcting hallux valgus for many years and knows well what home-grown methods of getting rid of this joint pathology lead to. Our conversation with him is about modern methods of treating a “bump” on the big toe.

This disease most often has a “female face”. Therefore, doctors advise ladies exactly: if you do not want your foot to look like in the picture, try not to buy shoes with high heels. / Reproduction. Photo by author

Hallux valgus deformity of the foot can begin to develop at any age, even from a young age. It’s just that in the child-adolescent period, the changes are not yet so obvious. But with age, this pathology already becomes a problem.

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As a rule, the cause of deformity of the big toes is flat feet. Normally, the human foot has arches that form its ligamentous apparatus. There are two of them: the longitudinal one is located along the inner edge of the sole, the transverse one is located at the base of the fingers. If the ligaments and tendons cannot cope with the load, the foot flattens.

If there is a transverse flatfoot, the metatarsal bones, which should run parallel to each other, begin to fan out. Together with them, the toes also diverge. Almost everything, except for the large one, which does not move outward, but turns inward. Because of this, the head of the metatarsal bone partially comes out of the joint and begins to bulge. It looks like a “bump” suddenly appeared at the base of the thumb, which grows more and more over time.

As a result, this foot defect becomes a real tragedy, especially for women: instead of elegant shoes, you have to wear something shapeless and trampled.

But it’s not even about aesthetics: many patients suffering from such an ailment sometimes do not know how to sleep because of the pain. In search of deliverance, they buy spacers, ointments, gels and other “miraculous” remedies.

— They even come with pieces of newspaper rolled up and inserted between the fingers, – says Evgeny Kaptial. — But neither special spacers, nor cotton swabs, nor guide rails help.

If the disease is amenable to non-surgical treatment, it is only at the earliest stage with a deviation angle of no more than 20 ͦ. Further conservative methods of treatment do not exist. To get rid of this problem once and for all, it is necessary to form a new arch of the foot – it’s like tearing down an old house that cannot be repaired. And build a new one. That is, an osteotomy.

This is an operation in which surgeons break the bone and restore the correct axis of the finger by folding the bone fragments into position. Further, everything is fixed with miniature titanium screws that do not oxidize and do not cause allergic reactions. Therefore, they can stay in the leg forever without requiring removal.

According to the surgeon, if the bump is small, and the flat feet are 1-2 degrees, then doctors work only with the first toe, using minimally invasive methods. But the problem is that people turn to a specialist when the disease is already very advanced and the entire foot suffers from the pathology. That is, to the protruding bone of the thumb – the so-called hallux valgus – another type of foot change is added – Taylor’s deformity, in which the same thing happens with the little finger. As a result, it turns out that both the thumb and the little finger are inclined towards the center, and the foot itself acquires a triangular shape.

— In such cases, we do osteotomy on other fingers, — Evgeny Kaptyal says, — in other words, we reshape and reassemble the entire foot. Only in this way will all the fingers once and for all fall into place and the bone will not stick out and hurt.

“Reshape the foot” sounds scary. Before my eyes there is a picture of a bloody leg, over which surgeons are wielding scalpels.

But, as the surgeon explained, in fact, the operation is almost bloodless. Doctors use a special tourniquet that compresses blood vessels for a couple of hours. If during this time the surgeons do not have time to finish the work, the tourniquet is dissolved, and when the leg “rests” a little, they are applied again, and the operation continues. But usually this is not required. A standard operation lasts 30-40 minutes, with advanced disease – an hour and a half.

— In my practice, there was only one case when the operation lasted longer — the patient had a severe deformity of the foot and severe osteoporosis, which is often found in postmenopausal women. The bones in this disease are so fragile, like “sugar”, so you need to work with them very carefully.

It is even more difficult to perform an operation on a patient who has problems with blood vessels. After all, the healing process of the foot is quite long, and with poor blood supply, the risk of purulent complications is high. Therefore, diseases such as varicose veins, especially with trophic changes, and diabetes mellitus are contraindications for surgical intervention.

And the doctor does not like patients who smoke. Again, due to the fact that such people very often have problems with blood vessels in their legs. And in the rest today, age is not an obstacle for the formation of the correct foot. For example, an 87-year-old woman was recently successfully operated on at the hospital.

But the operation, according to Yevgeny Kaptyal, is half the battle. Yes, surgeons can create the correct foot, but then it needs to be developed and strengthened.

— Rehabilitation is very laborious and depends on the degree of foot deformity and the extent of the operation, — says the doctor. — Without it, all the skill of a surgeon can go down the drain. And here much depends on the patient himself.

The very next day, a person needs, through pain and “I don’t want”, to start walking and perform special exercises: roll a ball with his feet, twist a towel with his toes. The doctor cited as an example one woman, a seamstress by profession, who immediately after the operation went to work and, constantly moving her foot (pressing the pedal of the sewing machine), quickly restored her mobility.

Those who try and move a lot quickly forget about the injury and can get back on their heels. True, as the doctor clarifies, not earlier than three months after the operation.

And before that, you need to walk in special orthopedic shoes, which unload the operated area, increasing the load on the heel. To fix the fingers in an even position and quick healing, expanders will come in handy here.

By the way

To prevent the disease, you need to strengthen the muscles of the foot. Regular barefoot walks on grass, sand, earth, a smooth floor or rug with ledges will help to do this.

It is also useful to do the following exercises daily: roll from heel to toe, walk on half-toes, the outer and inner surfaces of the foot, roll a ball or roller with the foot.

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The material was published in the newspaper “Sankt-Peterburgskiye Vedomosti” No. 117 (7200) dated 06/30/2022 under the heading “Inconvenient Bone”.

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Boston doesn’t regret leaving the EU

Across the UK, most people think Brexit is a bad idea. In only one constituency, many believe that leaving the EU is the right decision. Why is that?

Brexit 7 years later: Boston does not regret leaving the EU

No, Anton Dani admits, puffing out his cheeks, this is not how he imagined Brexit. “Reality probably turned out to be worse than we expected at the time,” says Anton Dani, 57, and lets his eyes roam the Boston market square from his cafe.

This sounds devastating. But this is deceptive. The former mayor of a small eastern English town still thinks Brexit is a good idea. It’s just that the government in London is implementing it completely wrong. Many people in Boston feel the same way as Dani, who is now getting more and more furious.

Boston as a stronghold of Brexit

Welcome to Brexit City! Seven years ago on Friday (June 23), the UK voted in favor of Brexit. The result was close. But not in Boston: here, about 76 percent voted “yes”, more than in any other city. And while approval ratings have fallen to their lowest point in the polls of late, Boston is solidifying its status as a Brexit stronghold.

When the Unherd portal approached the people of the country a few months ago with the statement “Britain made a mistake by leaving the EU”, there was only one constituency where the majority answered “no”: Boston.

The landscape along the coast of the North Sea is picturesque; because of the many fields, this region is considered the breadbasket of England. Tractors slow down again and again. The famous “Boston Stump”, as the locals affectionately call their characteristic church tower, is visible for miles around, towering over the lanes of the market town. Wendy and Jeanne serve tourists in a church shop.

Possible reasons for supporting Brexit

Do they support Brexit? Of course, yes, two elderly ladies emphasize amiably. Reason: Lots of strangers who have moved to Boston in recent years. “I no longer dare to go out into the city alone at night,” they say.

Many people think like them. “Reality gives them more reasons, gives them more evidence that they really need Brexit,” says former mayor Dany. Supporters of leaving the EU promised to tighten immigration rules – this is still expected in Boston.

The city considers itself open to the whole world. Many of the Pilgrims who emigrated to America on the Mayflower in 1620 were from here. And the city on the east coast of the United States is called Boston because it was founded by people from here.

But the people of Lincolnshire are sick of it. Once a thriving port city, in recent years there is hardly a negative statistic that Boston would not fall into. It is the fattest city in the country, the city with the worst integration and lowest wages, and the city with the most murders, according to statistics.

Many point to a large influx of migrants. They are mostly people from poorer EU countries who hang out in groups during the day in the market square, they say in pubs. Attracted by the once-thriving agricultural economy, some of them work for low wages and live in dilapidated houses, often with too many people in one room.

Between 2011 and 2021, the number of migrants increased tenfold. In the evenings, they drank liquor in the square in front of his cafe, despite the ban, says Dani, a member of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Tori Party.

Disappointment in Boston

But the restaurateur insists that he does not feel any resentment. Rather, he feels betrayed by London. The government does not find a solution to the problem of a large number of migrants. Experts note that after Brexit, for example, there are no more readmission agreements for illegal migrants with EU countries.

This has consequences in practice. “Many people get the impression that they are strangers in their own city,” Dani says. The municipality is left alone with their problems. No language courses offered, no schools built, no teachers hired. Instead, the number of polyclinics and precincts is being reduced.

Illegal waste disposal is on the rise, as is shoplifting and drug dealing. “Our city was beautiful. Look at it, and now it’s rubbish,” says Dani, pointing his finger somewhere in the distance.

For the former mayor, it is clear that the solution to the problem can only be “more Brexit”. But not everyone in Boston thinks so. Sitting in Fydell House, tour guide Jane Keatley smiles melancholy. “There are so many narrow-minded people here,” she says, taking a deep breath.

“They think that with Brexit they will just snap their fingers and all migrants will disappear in one fell swoop,” says a woman who voted in 2016 to stay in the EU. “But this is nonsense. Just like Brexit.”

The aftermath of Brexit

The statistics certainly prove Kightley right. Trade with the EU has plummeted. New tariffs and bureaucratic rules prevent exchanges with our nearest neighbor. Participation in the East Asian trade pact CPTPP, so lauded by Brexit supporters, hardly outweighs the losses in EU business, according to experts.

Food prices rose, real wages fell. The extra money promised by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the ailing NHS, which could have been saved on payments to Brussels thanks to Brexit, never made it there.

This is partly due to the consequences of the “corona” – Russia’s war against Ukraine. But it is clear to experts that Brexit bears a share of the responsibility for much that goes wrong in the country.

“Life for people across the country – both in those areas that remain and those that have gone – is becoming increasingly limited, cruel and fragile,” columnist Matthew Syed recently wrote in The Sunday Times.