Paronychia (for Parents) – Nemours Kidshealth

What Is Paronychia?

Paronychia (pahr-uh-NIK-ee-uh) is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. 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.

Kids usually don’t get paronychia in a toe (unless they have an ingrown toenail). But fingernail paronychia is one of the most common hand infections.

What Causes Paronychia?

Paronychia usually happens when the skin around the nail is irritated or injured. When skin gets damaged like this, germs can get in and cause an infection. These germs can be:

• bacteria, causing bacterial paronychia
• fungi, causing fungal paronychia

Things that can injure the skin around a nail include:

• biting or pulling off a hangnail
• frequent sucking on a finger
• clipping a nail too short or trimming the cuticle
• getting manicures
• having hands in water a lot (as from a job washing dishes)
• having an ingrown toenail

Kids with diabetes also have a higher chance of getting paronychia infections.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Paronychia?

If your child has paronychia, it’s usually easy to recognize. Look for:

• an area of red, swollen skin around a nail that’s painful, warm, and tender to the touch
• a pus-filled blister

Bacterial paronychia:

• usually appears very suddenly

Fungal paronychia:

• can take longer to notice and causes less obvious symptoms
• can be a chronic condition (last for a long time)

Chronic paronychia can cause changes in the affected nail. It might turn a different color or look as though it is detached or abnormally shaped.

In rare cases, if the paronychia is especially severe and goes untreated, the infection can spread beyond the area of the nail.

How Is Paronychia Diagnosed?

Usually, a doctor or nurse practitioner can diagnose paronychia by looking at the infected area. In some cases, they may take a pus sample to be checked in a laboratory to see what type of bacteria or fungus caused the infection.

How Is Paronychia Treated?

Treating paronychia depends on how severe the infection is and whether it has started to spread. Often, soaking the infected nail in warm water for 20 minutes a few times a day will help it heal on its own in a few days.

If there’s an abscess, a doctor might need to drain it. In rare cases, part of the nail may have to be removed. The doctor also might prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Usually, after an abscess is drained, the affected finger or toe heals quickly with no long-term problems.

For fungal paronychia, the doctor may prescribe antifungal creams, lotions, or oral (taken by mouth) medicines.

Can Paronychia Be Prevented?

Have kids follow these tips to lower their risk of paronychia:

• Don’t bite or pick nails.
• Trim fingernails and toenails with clippers or manicure scissors, and smooth the edges with an emery board or nail file. The best time to do this is after a bath or shower, when nails are softer. They shouldn’t cut their nails too short.
• Don’t push cuticles back or trim them and don’t use cuticle remover. Damaging cuticles can let bacteria get into the skin and cause an infection.
• Wear rubber gloves if there’s a chance their hands might be in contact with harsh detergents or chemicals.
• If your child has diabetes, make sure it is well-controlled.

As much as possible, have kids try to avoid injuring their nails and the skin around them. Nails grow very slowly, so any damage to them can last a long time and increase the risk of paronychia.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call your doctor if:

• Your child has paronychia that doesn’t get better with treatment.
• The infection seems to be spreading.

Paronychia – Harvard Health

What Is It?

A paronychia is an infection of the skin that surrounds a toenail or fingernail. There are two different types of paronychia, acute and chronic:

• Acute paronychia — This usually appears as a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth and redness around a fingernail or toenail, usually after an injury to the area. An acute paronychia typically is caused by an infection with bacteria that invade the skin where it was injured. The injury can be caused by overaggressive manicuring (especially cutting or tearing the cuticle, which is the rim of paper-thin skin that outlines the outer margins of your nail). It can also result from biting the edges of the nails or the skin around the nails, picking at the skin near the nails or sucking on the fingers. 

• Chronic paronychia — This is an infection that usually develops slowly, causing gradual swelling, tenderness and redness of the skin around the nails. It usually is caused by Candida or other species of yeast (fungus). It often affects several fingers on the same hand. People who are more likely to get this infection include those with diabetes or workers whose jobs constantly expose their hands to water or chemical solvents. Such jobs include bartending, house cleaning, janitorial work, dentistry, nursing, food service, dishwashing and hairdressing.

Symptoms

An acute paronychia causes throbbing pain, redness, warmth and swelling in the skin around a nail. In some cases, a small collection of pus forms under the skin next to the nail, or underneath the nail itself. Often, only one nail is affected. 

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Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date,
should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Infected Finger | EmergeOrtho

An infected finger can happen to anyone at any time. Something as seemingly simple as a cut or nip from your pet cat is subjected to infection, especially if not treated quickly or properly. Once infection sets in, the potential for serious problems increases exponentially. To avoid the loss of nerve tissue and/or bone, it is crucial to seek treatment from an experienced physician.

At EmergeOrtho, our highly-skilled physicians understand that even a small injury can lead to a serious infection. For this exact reason, our fellowship-trained EmergeOrtho Hand and Wrist Team provides innovative and superior quality service for patients across North Carolina. Our priority centers on helping all of our patients to Emerge Stronger. Healthier. Better.

How Can I Tell if I Have an Infected Finger?

Infections in the finger occur as the result of bacteria, viruses, and parasites entering the body through a wound. No matter the size —a small cut or large gash—any break in the skin is an invitation for infection. Once the infection enters the body it destroys healthy tissues and begins to spread through your blood. It can even creep into your joints (septic arthritis) and bones (osteomyelitis).

Left untreated severe medical problems can not only lead to loss of nerve tissue and bone but may also develop into a life-threatening situation. Symptoms of finger infections include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Pus drainage
• Fever (in some cases)

Causes and Types of Finger and Hand Infections

Perhaps not widely known, there are multiple common causes of finger and hand infections, which include (but are not limited to):

• Tendon sheath infection
  When a puncture wound in the finger produces an infection in the flexor tendons around the wrist, it can affect your ability to bend your fingers. As a result, the fingers and hand are stiff, swollen, red and tender. This infection often requires treatment with IV antibiotics.
• Deep puncture wounds
  Cat, dog, and other animal bites serve as recognizable and frequent examples of deep puncture wounds. Cat-bite wounds, in particular, are cause for concern due to a cat’s fangs being able to penetrate deeply into the joints and tissue. The result: A perfect breeding ground for infection. If you have been bitten by an animal—regardless of whether it is feral or domesticated, you should be checked for rabies immediately.
• Cellulitis
  This bacterial infection results from a break or crack in the skin around the fingernails. It can quickly spread to the bloodstream and must be addressed quickly with antibiotic treatment to avoid serious repercussions. Some patients may need hospitalization to fight the disease.
• Chronic paronychia
  Paronychia is a term used when cellulitis has progressed beyond 10 to 12 weeks. Chronic paronychia describes the slow onset of the infection and acute paronychia is the term for the sudden onset of infection. Topical steroids may be used to treat the infection.
• Deep space infection
  When one of the compartments within the hand is infected and an abscess forms, the condition is referred to as a deep space infection. These infections often manifest in the space between the fingers or the muscle at the base of the thumb and palm.
• MRSA
  Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA is a bacterial infection contracted primarily from large, community places like hospitals, gyms, dorms, and even daycares. MRSA must be treated as soon as possible to prevent it from transforming into a more serious infection.
• Fungal infections
  More common in those whose hands are frequently wet — like dishwashers, fungal bacterial infections affect the area around the fingernail. Signs include red, swollen, and tender cuticles. While this infection can be treated with medication, surgery may be needed to completely drain the pus.
• Septic arthritis
  This type of infection occurs when a wound near a joint becomes infected, usually, from a penetrating injury such as a bite, small needle, or injection. Urgent surgical attention is needed because the joint cartilage can be destroyed in just a few days. If not caught early, septic arthritis may require weeks of antibiotic treatment and several surgeries.
• Herpes virus
  Although most people may not associate the herpes virus with the hands, it can cause an infection resulting in small, painful, and blood-tinged blisters. This condition usually resolves in a few weeks with basic treatment.
• Gardening or activities that involve sharp objects
  A mishap with a gardening tool or other sharp object can cause the pulp of the fingertip to become infected, forming something called a felon. This causes painful throbbing and may need to be drained. In more serious cases, soft tissue and bone may be destroyed.

Infected Finger Treatment

While some infections can be managed with antibiotics or topical steroids, others may require surgery or even extensive hospitalization. If you believe you may have an infection of the skin in or around your finger, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

At EmergeOrtho, all of our physicians have broad, extensive clinical experience and training. Our renowned expertise throughout North Carolina for providing sophisticated, patient-centered care makes our practice the clear choice for local orthopedic care.

To receive treatment for an infected finger, request a visit now.

Herpetic whitlow (whitlow finger) – NHS

Herpetic whitlow (whitlow finger) is a painful infection of the finger caused by the herpes virus. It’s easily treated but can come back.

Check if you have herpetic whitlow

A herpetic whitlow can appear anywhere on your finger, but it usually affects the top of your finger (fingertip).

Symptoms of herpetic whitlow include:

• swelling and pain in your finger
• blisters or sores on your finger
• skin becoming red or darker than your usual skin tone

A red, swollen and painful finger

Credit:

Blisters or sores on your finger

Credit:

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you think you have herpetic whitlow

Treatment is more effective if started early and will help stop the infection spreading.

Information:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: how to contact a GP

It’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:

• visit their website
• use the NHS App
• call them

Find out about using the NHS during COVID-19

Treatment from a GP

You may be prescribed antiviral tablets if you see a GP within 48 hours of your symptoms showing.

Antiviral tablets can help your finger to heal more quickly.

If you cannot see a GP within 48 hours, the infection will go away without treatment within 2 to 4 weeks. But there are things you can do yourself to help.

Things you can do to help herpetic whitlow

Do

• keep your finger clean and covered with a dressing

• take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease the pain

Don’t

• do not touch your finger – the infection can spread easily

• do not touch other parts of your body or other people with your infected finger

• do not try to drain the fluid – this can cause the infection to spread

• do not use contact lenses – you could spread the infection to your eye

If your infection gets worse

Go back to the GP if your infection gets worse or if you have a very high temperature (you feel hot and shivery).

Causes of herpetic whitlow

Herpetic whitlow is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. You can get it if you touch a cold sore or blister of another infected person.

You’re more likely to get herpetic whitlow if you’ve had cold sores or genital herpes.

You may also get it if you have a weakened immune system – for example, if you have diabetes or you’re having chemotherapy.

The first time you have herpetic whitlow will usually be the most severe.

Herpetic whitlow can come back

Once you have the virus, it stays in your body for the rest of your life.

The condition is rare, but if you get it once you can get it again. For example, it might come back if you have a cut or sore on your finger, or if you’re feeling stressed or unwell.

There’s not much you can do to prevent herpetic whitlow but it can be treated in the same way if it comes back.

Page last reviewed: 06 November 2020
Next review due: 06 November 2023

Hand Infections

Used with permission from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Urgency of treatment of hand infections

Hand infections can cause severe problems that persist even after the infection has resolved, such as stiffness, loss of strength, and even loss of tissues such as skin, nerve and even bone. Thus early and aggressive treatment of hand infections is essential. When seen early, some types of infection can be treated with antibiotics and local rest and soaking. However many infections begin to cause severe problems, even after a day or two, if not treated with antibiotics, surgical drainage, and removal of infected tissues. Any drainage or pus should be sent for laboratory testing to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection and the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.

Paronychia

A paronychia is an infection of the cuticle area around the fingernail. Acute paronychia is caused by bacteria, and presents with redness, swelling, pain, and later with pus. Early cases may be treated with soaks and antibiotics, but if pus is seen or suspected, drainage by lifting the cuticle and/or nail, or lancing the area, is required also. Chronic paronychia is caused by fungus, and the cuticle area becomes just mildly red and swollen, with scant or no drainage and mild tenderness. It occurs in people whose hands are frequently wet, such as bartenders. It may be treated with special medication and reduction or elimination of the constant exposure to moisture, which promotes this fungal infection. On occasion, surgery is needed to remove infected tissue. It is commonly mistaken for a bacterial infection. Prolonged treatment is common with chronic paronychia.

Felon

A more serious and usually more painful, throbbing infection, called “felon”, occurs in the closed space of the fatty tissues of the finger tip and pulp (see Figure 2).This usually requires surgical drainage and antibiotics. If not treated early, destruction of the soft tissues and even bone can occur.

Herpetic Whitlow

Herpetic whitlow is a viral infection of the hand, usually on the fingers, caused by a herpes virus. This is more commonly seen in healthcare workers whose hands are exposed to the saliva of patients carrying herpes. The condition, characterized by small, swollen, painful blood tinged blisters, and sometimes numbness, is typically treated conservatively and typically resolves in several weeks without many after-effects.

Septic arthritis/osteomyelitis

A wound in or near a joint, or a draining cyst from an arthritic joint can cause a severe infection of the joint, septic arthritis. In just a couple of days, the joint can be destroyed by the bacteria eroding the cartilage surface of the joint. Surgical drainage is required, in addition to antibiotics. If this treatment is delayed, infection of the bone can occur, a complication that is called osteomyelitis. It typically requires one or more operations to remove infected tissue and many patients require weeks of intravenous antibiotics.

Deep space infections

There are spaces in between the different layers of structures in the hand which can become infected, even from a small puncture wound. These may affect the thumb area (thenar space), the palm (deep palmar space) or even the web area between the bases of fingers (collar-button or web space abscess). These require surgical drainage, and they have potential to spread to other areas, even to the wrist and forearm.

Tendon sheath infection

If a small laceration or puncture wound occurs over the middle of a finger, especially near a joint on the palm side, an infection of the flexor tendon can occur. These can often cause severe stiffness, even destruction and rupture of the tendon. These present acutely with stiffness of the finger in a slightly bent posture, diffuse swelling and redness of the finger, tenderness on the palm side of the finger, and severe aggravation of pain with attempts to straighten the finger (see Figure 3). This infection requires immediate surgical drainage of the tendon sheath and antibiotics.

Atypical mycobacterial infections

In rare instances, a tendon sheath infection can be caused by an “atypical mycobacterium.” These develop gradually and may be associated with swelling and stiffness without much pain or redness. This type of infection is treated with special antibiotics for several months. Surgical removal of the infected lining of the tendons may also be necessary. Residual stiffness is common, despite treatment. Such infections may involve other soft tissues as well. Mycobacterium marinum is a common form and typically develops after puncture wounds from fish spines, or contamination of a simple wound or abrasion from stagnant water (in nature or from aquariums). Identification of the organism can be difficult. Patients with impaired immune systems (AIDS patients, cancer patients) are more susceptible to atypical mycobacterial infections.

Infections from bite wounds

Infections from bites, from humans or animals, are typically associated with several bacteria. Although Streptococcus and Staphylococcus can be involved (driven in from the skin by a tooth), other organisms common to the mouth may be seen and typically require other or additional antibiotics. Eikenella corrodens is often seen with human bite injuries and Pasteurella multocida is seen with dog and especially cat bite wounds. Wounds frequently are not closed after treatment so that any infection can drain out, and deep structures such as joints may be involved. Surgical trimming of infected/crushed tissue is often required. Rabies infection from an infected animal may be serious, even fatal. Fortunately, the reported cases of rabies in humans are rare, and the incidence of rabies is small in domestic animals, most cases coming from bites from wild animals.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 3, 2021.

What is Paronychia?

A paronychia is an infection of the skin that surrounds a toenail or fingernail. There are two different types of paronychia, acute and chronic:

• Acute paronychia — This usually appears as a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth and redness around a fingernail or toenail, usually after an injury to the area. An acute paronychia typically is caused by an infection with bacteria that invade the skin where it was injured. The injury can be caused by overaggressive manicuring (especially cutting or tearing the cuticle, which is the rim of paper-thin skin that outlines the outer margins of your nail). It can also result from biting the edges of the nails or the skin around the nails, picking at the skin near the nails or sucking on the fingers. 

• Chronic paronychia — This is an infection that usually develops slowly, causing gradual swelling, tenderness and redness of the skin around the nails. It usually is caused by Candida or other species of yeast (fungus). It often affects several fingers on the same hand. People who are more likely to get this infection include those with diabetes or workers whose jobs constantly expose their hands to water or chemical solvents. Such jobs include bartending, house cleaning, janitorial work, dentistry, nursing, food service, dishwashing and hairdressing.

Symptoms

An acute paronychia causes throbbing pain, redness, warmth and swelling in the skin around a nail. In some cases, a small collection of pus forms under the skin next to the nail, or underneath the nail itself. Often, only one nail is affected. 

A chronic paronychia usually causes less dramatic symptoms than an acute paronychia. Typically, the area around the nail is tender, red and mildly swollen; the cuticle is missing; and the skin around the nail feels moist or “boggy.” Several nails on the same hand may be affected at the same time.

Diagnosis

If you have a mild acute paronychia, you usually can make the diagnosis yourself. Look for throbbing pain, swelling and redness in an area of damaged skin around a nail.  

If you are diabetic, have several affected fingers or toes, or have severe symptoms (pus, fever, severe pain), you must be evaluated by a doctor. In most cases, your doctor can make the diagnosis by examining the affected area. However, if there is an accumulation of pus, the doctor may take a sample of the pus to be tested in the laboratory for bacteria or fungi.

Expected Duration

How long a paronychia lasts depends on the type of paronychia. With proper treatment, an acute paronychia usually heals within 5 to 10 days. A chronic paronychia may require several weeks of antifungal medication. Even after proper medical therapy, a paronychia may return if you injure the skin again or forget to keep the nail area dry.

Prevention

To prevent paronychia, try the following: 

• Keep your hands and feet dry and clean.  
• Wear rubber gloves with an absorbent cotton lining if your hands are exposed routinely to water or harsh chemicals.  
• Be gentle when you manicure your nails. Avoid cutting your cuticles or pushing them back.  
• Avoid biting your nails and picking at the skin around your nails.  
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels within a normal range by following your diet and taking your medications.

Treatment

The type of treatment depends on the type of paronychia:

• Acute paronychia — You can begin treating yourself by soaking the finger or toe in warm water. Do this for at least 15 minutes, two to four times a day. If your symptoms do not improve with this treatment, or if pus develops near the nail, call your doctor. If you have a moderate or severe paronychia, your doctor may treat it with an oral antibiotic. You also will be told to elevate the injured finger or toe, and to soak the infected area in warm water two to four times a day. If pus has accumulated near the nail, the doctor will numb the area and drain the pus. If necessary, a small part of your nail will be removed to make sure that the area drains completely.  

• Chronic paronychia — Since most cases of chronic paronychia are caused by fungi, your doctor will treat the infection with antifungal medication that is applied to the skin, such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) or ketoconazole (Nizoral). You may have to apply the medicine every day for several weeks. You also will be reminded to keep the skin clean and dry. Rarely, in severe cases, you will need to take antifungal drugs or steroids by mouth.

When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of a paronychia and: 

• You have diabetes  
• You have an accumulation of pus near your nail or under it  
• You have a fever  
• The area of redness near your nail begins to spread up your finger  
• You have milder symptoms (tenderness, mild redness, minimal swelling) that last for seven days or more

Prognosis

With proper treatment, the outlook is usually very good. In most cases, an acute paronychia heals within 5 to 10 days with no permanent damage to the nail. Rarely, very severe cases may progress to osteomyelitis (a bone infection) of the finger or toe. 

Although a chronic paronychia may take several weeks to heal, the skin and nail usually will return to normal eventually. However, you must remember to apply medication as directed, and to keep the affected area dry.

Learn more about Paronychia

Associated drugs

IBM Watson Micromedex

External resources

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

http://www.niams.nih.gov/

American Academy of Dermatology

http://www.aad.org/

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Nail Problems and Injuries | HealthLink BC

Top of the pageCheck Your Symptoms

Topic Overview

Minor fingernail and toenail problems are common. At one time or another, almost everyone has caught a nail on something, causing it to rip, or has smashed a finger in a door, leaving blood under the nail. These kinds of injuries can be quite painful but are usually not serious. You can often relieve pain and prevent infection of minor nail problems at home.

Normally, fingernails grow about one-tenth of a millimetre each day. Toenails grow at about one-half or one-third the rate of the fingernails. Aging and diseases that decrease blood flow to the hands and feet may slow nail growth.

Common nail changes include:

• Splitting, peeling, or brittle nails. These are common problems that develop when your hands are frequently exposed to water, strong soaps, and other chemicals. You may be able to prevent some of these problems if you use lotion and avoid repeatedly putting your hands in water.
• Colour changes.
  • Little white marks (leukonychia) often appear after minor injuries. They may last for weeks or months and usually go away on their own.
  • It is common for a nail to turn black after an injury. The black or purple-black colour is caused by blood under the nail and will go away as the injury heals.
  • Black, brown, or purple discoloration under a nail that has not been injured may be caused by melanoma.
• Changes in the shape or texture of nails, which may occur for a variety of reasons. Some nail changes, such as the formation of ridges, are normal with aging. Thick, brittle, or dark nails are more common in older adults who have poor circulation.
• Ingrown nails, which are often caused by improper trimming, tight shoes, or heredity. Your nails may grow into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, and infection. In rare cases, an abscess may develop under a nail (subungual abscess).
• Separation from the nail bed. Once your nail separates from its nail bed, for whatever reason, it will not reattach. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for fingernails and up to 18 months for toenails to grow back attached to the nail bed.
• Infection and allergic reactions. These are common problems caused by artificial nails.
• Fungal nail infections, which can vary in appearance depending on the type of fungus infecting the nail or the location of the infection. It is not unusual for fungal nail infections to follow athlete’s foot infections. For more information, see the topic Fungal Nail Infections.

Nail problems can also be caused by:

• An injury to a nail.
• Hangnails, which may lead to a minor infection next to your nails (paronychia), causing the skin around the nails to become swollen and tender.
• Nail-biting, which can lead to fingertips that are red and sore and cuticles that bleed. Nail-biting also increases the chance of bacterial infections around your nail beds and in your mouth.
• Side effects of medicines, such as chemotherapy and antimalarial medicines.
• Diseases of the skin, such as psoriasis or eczema.
• Skin growths, such as warts, cysts, or moles.
• Other diseases such as Addison’s disease, peripheral arterial disease, or HIV infection.

Check Your Symptoms

Do you have a problem with your nails?

This means a problem that affects the nails only and not any other part of the limb (no other parts of the finger or hand or of the toe or foot).

How old are you?

Less than 12 years

Less than 12 years

12 years or older

12 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

• If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Did you injure a nail?

This could include tearing a nail, separating a nail from the nail bed, or hitting the nail hard enough that blood collects under it.

Do you have pain under or around the nail?

How bad is the pain

on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?

8 to 10: Severe pain

Severe pain

5 to 7: Moderate pain

Moderate pain

1 to 4: Mild pain

Mild pain

Do you have diabetes, a

weakened immune system

, or peripheral arterial disease?

Yes

Diabetes, immune problems, or peripheral arterial disease

No

Diabetes, immune problems, or peripheral arterial disease

Is there an object under the nail that you cannot remove?

Do you think you may have a fever?

Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it?

Do you have an ingrown nail?

Ingrown means that the nail has grown into the skin instead of over it.

Have you had nail problems for more than 2 weeks?

Yes

Nail problems for more than 2 weeks

No

Nail problems for more than 2 weeks

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines and natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Pain in adults and older children

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it’s severe when it’s there.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
• Red streaks leading from the area.
• Pus draining from the area.
• A fever.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

• Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
• If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
• If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Home Treatment

Home treatment can help relieve pain, prevent infection, and promote healing. To relieve pain from an injury to the nail, try the following:

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Signs of infection develop.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent despite home treatment.

Prevention

To prevent common nail problems:

• Apply hand cream frequently throughout the day. Be sure to massage the cream into the nail and cuticle.
• Wear gloves when you are working in your garden or when the weather turns cold.
• Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves or disposable plastic gloves to protect your hands from overexposure to water, detergents, and other chemicals.
• Trim your fingernails weekly, after bathing, when they are softer.
  • Do not trim nails too short.
  • Use an emery board and sharp manicure scissors or clippers to trim your fingernails. Nails that are smooth and well-cared for are less likely to become damaged.
• Trim toenails monthly, after bathing.
  • Cut them straight across and leave the nails a little longer at the corners so that the sharp ends don’t cut into your skin.
  • If you have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or a disease that causes problems with your immune system, discuss with your doctor the best way to trim your toenails before trimming them yourself.
• Be especially careful when trimming your baby’s nails.
• Avoid trimming your cuticles. Even a minor cut alongside your nail can cause infection.
• Do not bite or pick at your nails.

To prevent a fungal nail infection:

• Keep your feet clean and dry. Dry feet are less likely to become infected. Apply powder to your feet when needed.
• Wear clean, dry socks. Change your socks once a day or more frequently if they become wet.
• Wear roomy shoes that allow air to circulate around your feet.
• Wear shower sandals or shower shoes when you use public pools, spas, and showers.

To prevent problems with artificial nails:

• Test for a reaction to the artificial nail by having just one nail applied. Wait several days to see whether redness, itching, pain, or rash around or under the nail or separation of the nail from the nail bed develops.
• Do not apply an artificial nail if the nail or the skin around the nail looks irritated or infected.
• If an artificial nail does separate from the nail bed, dip your fingertip into rubbing alcohol for 15 seconds before reattaching the artificial nail. This will clean the space between the nails.
• Do not wear artificial nails for longer than 3 months at a time. Give your natural nails a month to rest before reapplying artificial nails.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• When did your nail problem begin?
• Was there an injury?
• Have you had a nail problem like this in the past? If so, how was it treated?
• Did you try any home treatment? If so, what? Did it help?
• Has anything improved your nail problem or made it worse?
• Are you taking any medicines?
• Do you have any health risks?

Credits

Current as of:
June 26, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
H. Michael O’Connor MD – Emergency Medicine

Current as of: June 26, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & H. Michael O’Connor MD – Emergency Medicine

90,000 Treatment of felon | clinic of laser technologies medcity.ua

Panaritium is an acute inflammation of the skin of the fingers of a purulent nature. More often this process touches the fingers of the hands than the feet. At the same time, panaritium is often confused with paronychia, in which the process touches the nail plate.

Symptoms

1. In most cases, such a disease occurs on the dorsum of the fingers of the hands, and at the same time the patient notices the appearance of a limited inflamed area.This is most often preceded by trauma.
2. Initially, the area is hyperemic (red), and then becomes whitish with a red border due to the reproduction of pathogenic microflora in it, that is, suppuration.
3. Without treatment, education progresses and increases in size.
4. Pain can join at the very beginning of the disease.
5. The skin over the purulent area may even be warmer than on healthy ones.

Cure felon

Caution

one.It would seem that such a felon is a completely harmless process and you can simply ignore it, or else pierce the formation yourself and extract pus. We strongly do not recommend doing the latter, as you can simply spread the infection.
2. If you do not consult a doctor and do not properly treat the affected finger, the process can spread to deeper tissues up to the bone.

Causes and risk group

Panaritium is an acute process that develops very quickly when the appropriate conditions arise.

One of the most common causes is trauma, which can be the following: puncture with a non-sterile needle, cut with a knife, glass or other sharp object, an insect or animal bite, a splinter, even an ordinary torn out hangnail. Also, panaritium often occurs after a poor-quality manicure, in which non-sterile instruments were used.

Classification

For panaritium, surgeons have identified several types, which depend on the localization of purulent inflammation.
1. Cutaneous felon is the most common, superficial form that affects the epidermis and dermis. Manifested by visible suppuration, redness and moderate or mild soreness. The purulent bladder gradually increases.
2. Subcutaneous panaritium – deeper bedding of the process. This type of panaritium develops in areas with denser skin, palms, so pus cannot evacuate for a long time, but spreads to deeper tissues – tendons, as well as joints and bones.Outwardly, it can manifest itself as an inflammatory painful compaction.
3. Periungual felon. The skin around the nail becomes inflamed – the skin roll. The periungual cushion usually reacts actively to inflammation, which is manifested by severe pain and severe suppuration. When the nail plate is damaged, this process is already called paronychia.
4. The subungual felon develops when an infection gets under the nail. Pressing on it is especially painful. Patients complain of a feeling of fullness under the nail.
5. Tendon panaritium – tendovaginitis. A severe form of the disease when the infection spreads to the tendons. There is severe pain in the “depth” of the fingers and the hand itself, up to complete immobilization. At the same time, the fingers swell a lot.
6. Bone felon. Spread of the infection to the bones of the hand or foot.
7. Articular panaritium or purulent arthritis. In this case, the interphalangeal joints are affected, which is manifested by their swelling and a decrease in the activity of movements.

Cure felon

Diagnostics in our clinic

In most cases, one consultation with a surgeon is enough to diagnose panaritium.If the doctor suspects deep tissue damage (subcutaneous, articular and other types), then additional research methods such as X-ray or ultrasound may be prescribed.

Also, for more targeted treatment, it may be necessary to conduct a number of laboratory tests, for example, to determine the pathogen.

Treatment in “Med City”

Treatment of panaritium is exclusively surgical, since, alas, it will not be possible to remove pus with conservative methods.
In the clinic “MED CITY” in Kiev, laser equipment of European quality is used for the treatment of panaritium, thanks to which we have the opportunity:
• safely open the abscess and extract its contents;
• clean and disinfect the wound;
• improve microcirculation and tissue regeneration;
Thus, we will simultaneously eliminate the problem, ensure the prevention of re-inflammation, and also increase the degree of wound healing. Among other things, laser surgery will provide a good cosmetic effect.

Rehabilitation period

The duration of recovery depends on the degree of development of the disease. The very next day after the operation, the patient can return to an active rhythm of life, and the defect itself will heal in 2-3 weeks, and with smaller lesions – up to 5 days.

Prevention

1. It is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene, as well as when a finger is injured, treat it with disinfectants and clean the wound from foreign bodies (dirt, debris, and so on).
2. In case of severe pain and wound suppuration, it is necessary to make an appointment with a surgeon.

Cure felon

Coronavirus: covid fingers and rash as symptoms of Covid-19

• Zoe Kleinman
• BBC Correspondent

May 3, 2020

Photo Credit, COVID-PIEL3 STUDY Photo caption,

“Kovidny fingers” are similar to the effects of frostbite

As established by Spanish doctors, some patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of Covid-19, five types of skin rashes can be traced.

According to clinical observations of Spanish physicians, these symptoms, including the so-called “covid fingers”, most often appear in children or young people and persist on the skin for several days.

A rash is often one of the symptoms of a viral disease; the most obvious example is chickenpox, which is accompanied by the appearance of vesicles (blisters) on the body. However, Spanish doctors were surprised by the variety of types of rash with Covid-19.

Skin rash is not currently included in the list of symptoms of coronavirus infection.

However, there have been many recent reports of covid toes, a red rash between the toes that occurs in some patients even in the absence of any other symptoms.

However, according to the head of the medical research group Ignacio Garcia-Doval, the most common type of rash is maculopapular rash (which usually occurs with measles) in the form of small red bumps, flat or convex, they most often appear on the torso.

“It is very strange to observe several types of rashes, and some of them are very peculiar,” Dr. Garcia-Doval told the BBC. “The rashes usually appear later, after the respiratory symptoms of this disease, so this is not a very good method diagnostics of patients “.

All patients referred to in the study were hospitalized and had respiratory symptoms.

As part of this study, all Spanish dermatologists described skin rashes that they observed in patients with coronavirus infection in the previous two weeks.A total of 375 cases have been described.

Five types of rash have been identified:

• Asymmetrical frostbite-like spots on the arms and legs, sometimes painful and itchy. They are mainly found in young patients with mild disease, appear in advanced stages, and last about 12 days. Seen in 19% of cases.
• Focal eruptions in the form of small blisters, which may cause itching, are noted on the torso and upper and lower extremities.They occur before any other symptoms appear and are noted in 9% of cases in middle-aged patients; persist for 10 days.
• Focal hives-like rash, white or pink in color, often itchy. Marked in 19% of cases, mainly on the torso, but also on the palms (inner side of the hand).
• Maculopapular eruptions in the form of small, flat or convex blisters, which were observed in 47% of cases. These rashes last for about a week and appear simultaneously with other symptoms, but most often accompany a severe course of the disease.
• The appearance on the skin of a vascular red-blue net (livedo) or signs of skin necrosis was observed in 6% of patients, mainly elderly patients with a severe course of the disease.

At the same time, experts note that the rash can have various origins and it is difficult to classify it without relevant experience and knowledge.

Not for self-diagnosis

“The importance of this study is not to help people diagnose [Covid-19] themselves, but to help us better understand how this virus can affect human health.” – says the president of the Association of British Dermatologists, Dr. Ruth Murphy.

Photo author, COVID-PIEL STUDY

Caption,

A rash similar to urticaria is noted in half of cases in patients with coronavirus infection.

As noted by Dr.Michael Head from the University of Southampton, the rash very often accompanies many viral infections, including pneumonia.

“In the case of Covid-19, rash and skin ulcers were noted in a certain percentage of hospitalized patients. We do not yet know how one is related to the other, or why, for example, these skin inflammations appear in some patients, while others do not.” , says the doctor.

The American Academy of Dermatology also compiles its own list of skin symptoms that are seen in patients with coronavirus infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, STIs) – (Di Center clinics)

These infections are spread from person to person through sexual contact. The most common STDs include genital herpes, chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital warts (genital warts), chancre and syphilis (chancre), urethritis and vaginitis of gonococcal (gonorrhea) and non-gonococcal nature.

Types of STDs

• Chlamydia – a bacterial infection spread during vaginal, oral and anal intercourse

In women, chlamydia can cause inflammation of the cervix and other pelvic organs, which are in the first place among the causes of ectopic pregnancies and female infertility. In men, chlamydial infection is manifested by inflammation of the urethra and epididymis (the organ in which sperm accumulates).

• Gonorrhea (gonorrhea) is a bacterial disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is transmitted through vaginal, oral and anal intercourse.

It usually appears in people who have multiple sexual partners, especially those who prefer unprotected intercourse. Gonorrhea is relatively easy to treat, but in the absence of adequate and timely treatment, it can cause dangerous complications. Immunity to gonococcus is not produced, and a person can get sick again.

This disease in men is manifested by purulent discharge from the penis, pain and burning sensation when urinating, itching in the anal area and (rarely) severe pain in the intestines with blood streaks in the stool.

In women, soreness and bleeding during vaginal intercourse, pain and burning sensation during urination, yellow and red vaginal discharge, acute pain, fever, and vaginal bleeding are found.

Newborn babies can become infected with gonorrhea when passing through the birth canal, while a few days after birth, yellow purulent discharge from the eyes appears.

• Genital herpes is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through sexual contact and enters the body through microcracks in the skin.

The causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus of the second type. The main manifestations last three to four weeks, include tingling or mild soreness in the genital area, itching, small painful blisters and sores in the anus, buttocks or thighs, severe burning, especially when in contact with urine, an increase in the inguinal lymph nodes.

Even after the symptoms disappear, the virus remains in the body for life, periodically causing exacerbations. It is very important for pregnant women to treat herpes before delivery, as the virus can be transmitted to the baby through the birth canal. This can lead to blindness, brain damage, and sometimes death of the child.

• Syphilis is a highly contagious infection caused by spirochetes and transmitted through all types of sexual intercourse.

The disease is most common among people with multiple sexual partners, especially those who do not use barrier methods of contraception.

The first stage of the disease begins approximately 10 days after infection and manifests itself as a painless hard chancre (ulcer) on the external genitals, anus, and less often fingers, hands, the infection can be brought into the oral cavity. As a result, the same ulcers appear in the mouth and throat. Another characteristic symptom is enlarged lymph nodes.

If untreated, the infection progresses and can progress to the next two stages.The third is the most severe. It is characterized by the appearance of a skin rash all over the body (including the palms and soles) that may persist or disappear intermittently, ulcers in the mouth and throat, swollen lymph nodes throughout the body, headaches, bone pain, fever, loss of appetite. and hair loss, meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain). At this stage, serious complications arise, such as paralysis, cardiac abnormalities, mental illness.The damage to the body can be severe enough to cause death.

• Trichomoniasis is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by the unicellular parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.

This parasite is betrayed during intercourse, in women the vagina is most often affected, and in men – the urethra. Trichomoniasis often occurs without clinical manifestations (especially in men). Symptoms usually appear 20 days after infection.In women, it can be thick yellow-green vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, an unpleasant odor from the vagina, redness of the external genital organs, itching, pain in the lower abdomen. In men, discharge from the penis, painful and difficult urination.

STD symptoms

• unusual genital discharge,
• various outgrowths of the mucous membrane of the external genital organs,
• pruritus,
• wounds and ulcers,
• skin rash,
• Pain and burning sensation when urinating.

What Can You Do

If you suspect you have an STD, consult your doctor, as only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. Don’t try to heal yourself.

Even if the symptoms disappear, complete the course prescribed for you, because an infection in the body may still be present.

Be sure to tell your sexual partner about the detected infection and make sure that he also undergoes medication, otherwise you can get infected again.Refuse sexual intercourse during treatment. Use condoms.

What a doctor can do

The doctor will order an examination. You and your partner must get tested to confirm the infection. After the examination, the doctor should prescribe the appropriate therapy. The choice of medication depends on the identified pathogen. After the end of the course of treatment, you need to re-take tests to make sure that you are really cured.

Panaritium: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Panaritium is an inflammatory process of a purulent type of acute form, which is localized in the tissues on the fingers or toes, as well as on the palmar part of the surface of the palms.

Panaritium on the finger is manifested by swelling and redness, pain and fever, as well as other symptoms of general intoxication.

Diagnostics of the panaritium is carried out taking into account the patient’s complaints and the examination of a specialist. In cases of suspicion of deep forms (bone / articular) pathology, an x-ray is prescribed. The initial stage of the disease can be treated with conservative methods, at later stages an abscess is formed, which requires drainage and opening, and amputation is performed in a neglected form.

Panaritium is mainly on the hands, it is extremely rare to find panaritium on the legs. Belongs to the category of pathologies of purulent surgery. The development of pathology occurs with the participation of pyogenic microorganisms, which penetrate into the tissues through the slightest defects and cracks in the skin. The most common microorganism is staphylococcus aureus.

The mild stage of panaritium on the arm or other part of the body is characterized by swelling, pain and redness. The severe stage is accompanied by chills and high fever.Painful sensations are characterized by sharpness and pulsation, often leading to insomnia.

Symptoms

The form of the disease directly affects the symptoms of panaritium, while there are a number of similar symptoms. The initial stage is mild edema and mild painful sensations.

All subsequent stages – an increase and increase in pain, swelling, redness, burning. In this case, the painful sensations are characterized as bursting and twitching, strong in intensity.

A distinctive feature of any form of pathology is the presence of a purulent focus, during the formation of which the patient feels symptoms of intoxication – weakness, increased fatigue, high temperature, headaches. At the same time, deep forms of the disease have more pronounced signs of intoxication.

Characteristic features of various types of felon:

• cutaneous or panaritium of the nail and the area of ​​the nail phalanx – redness, peeling of the skin at the site of redness, the formation of a blister with a cloudy liquid, mild intensifying pains, pulsation, stem lymphangitis or the presence of a red band from the hand to the forearm at the location of the lymph nodes;
• periungual or paronychia appears as a felon on the finger after unsuccessful manicure and nail treatment, as well as with hard physical labor – slight swelling, redness, rapid filling of the entire nail and the formation of an abscess, pain at the site of the focus;
• subungual panaritium or a complication of the periungual, independently appears panaritium on the thumb as a result of puncture wounds or splinters – severe pain, rapid formation of an abscess, severe edema, general malaise and high fever;
• subcutaneous panaritium with infection of deep puncture wounds – redness and local pain becomes intense after a few hours, swelling is large, suppuration is accompanied by chills and high fever;
• Bone felon in case of infection of an open fracture of bones or spread of infection from a subcutaneous type of felon – destruction of bone with severe pain, bulbous appearance of the affected limb, smooth and shiny skin, chills and fever;
• articular develops when infected through open fractures or is a complication from a tendon, subcutaneous and bone type – pain when the joint moves and mild swelling turns into inability to move the joint due to pain and swelling, as a result, a fistula is formed;
• tendon panaritium on the toe or purulent tenosynovitis – uniform swelling, externally bent toe, intense pain during movement, lack of appetite, weakness, high fever, delirium and confusion.The most dangerous type of pathology due to the rate of spread of pus into adjacent tissues.

Do you have symptoms of felon?

Only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease.
Do not delay the consultation – call

+7 (495) 775-73-60

The reasons for the emergence and development of

Treatment for panaritium depends on the cause of the disease. The most common cause of pathology is staphylococcus, which has got under the skin through cuts, wounds, drifts or burrs, etc.etc.

Pathogens can also be – streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacillus, Proteus, other causative agents of putrefactive infection.

Infection routes and risk factors

The risk group for developing the disease includes:

• children;
• age category from 20 to 50 years – working in production.

The most common place of occurrence of pathology is 1, 2 and 3 fingers of the right hand.

External factors in the development of pathology:

• humidification,
• vibration,
• maceration,
• systematic cooling,
• effects of irritants,
• pollution.

Internal factors in the development of the disease:

• endocrine diseases and disruptions;
• weakening of the immune system;
• vitamin deficiency;
• impaired metabolism.

Classification

The classification of the panaritium is carried out according to the location and the nature of tissue damage:

• cutaneous – mild form, abscess in the thickness of the epidermis;
• periungual – abscess near the nail fold;
• subungual – an abscess under the nail plate;
• subcutaneous – on the surface of the palm;
• bone – accompanied by bone decay;
• articular – interphalangeal joints and metacarpophalangeal;
• osteoarticular – a progressive form of articular, affects the joint and bones of the phalanges;
• tendon – the most dangerous, affects the tendons.

Complications

In the absence of timely treatment, the process of spreading a purulent infection affects vital functions:

• Untimely treatment of panaritium on the finger leads to pandactylitis, which can lead to amputation of the finger;
• damage to the tendons and joints leads to a loss of movement activity;
• damage to the tendon sheath leads to cellulitis of the hand;
• damage to the bones is dangerous for the development of osteomyelitis.

When to see a doctor

A surgeon, traumatologist, osteopath treats panaritium. If there is a suspicion of purulent inflammation, it is necessary to consult a surgeon. He will establish an accurate diagnosis and tell you how to treat felon.

You can make an appointment with any of the above specialists at Medicina JSC (Academician Roitberg’s clinic) in the center of Moscow near the Mayakovskaya, Belorusskaya, Novoslobodskaya metro stations.

Diagnostics

Only after accurately determining the type and shape, the doctor decides how to cure felon. Therefore, it is important to be examined promptly. Diagnostics begins with the collection of complaints and symptoms of pathology. The form of the disease is determined by palpation with a bulbous probe of the location of the abscess.

X-rays are taken to identify bone and joint lesions. In this case, for the articular form of the disease, x-rays are performed on the fingers of the same name on both hands (both healthy and affected).

In JSC “Medicine” (the clinic of Academician Roitberg) you can undergo any diagnostic study with high accuracy of results.

Treatment

Treatment of a superficial disease is carried out on an outpatient basis, and for deep forms – in a purulent surgery hospital.

The early stages of the disease involve conservative treatment – darsonval, thermal procedures and UHF, baths, the application of compresses and medicinal ointments, antibacterial and antifungal drugs.In the event that positive dynamics do not occur in a week, then a surgical operation is prescribed.

The advanced stages of superficial forms and all deep forms of pathology require surgical intervention. Panaritium surgery involves opening and draining for a full outflow of purulent contents.

The tactics of surgical intervention for bone and articular forms is guided by the degree of preservation of the affected tissues. Partial destruction involves the removal of panaritium and damaged areas of tissue, and total spread involves amputation.In this case, antibacterial, analgesic and anti-toxic therapy is carried out.

General principles of treatment of the disease:

• complete anesthesia;
• complete exsanguination during the operation;
• complete removal of pus and affected tissues;
• adequate management of the postoperative period;
• variant of surgical intervention, combining functional and cosmetic principles.

Home Remedies

At home, you can make compresses and baths during treatment, but only after consulting a specialist. Daily steaming baths with potassium permanganate have an effective effect. When preparing the baths, it is important to observe the temperature regime of the water – not hot or cold, but the color from the addition of potassium permanganate – light pink. The affected limbs should be placed in the prepared solution for no more than 5-7 minutes.Next, you need to blot the limb with a clean napkin or sterile bandage. After the bath, it is necessary to apply a bandage with a sucking-out therapeutic ointment prescribed by the doctor. The bandage and limb must be tightly fixed.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures felon:

• antiseptic treatment of any damage to the skin;
• optimal hand cleanliness;
• the use of moisturizers;
• neat cutting of fresh fish, meat and vegetables / fruits;
• Careful choice of a manicurist – compliance with the rules of disinfection.

Cystitis after intimacy in women. What to do? : POSITIVEMED

Frequent painful urination in small portions of urine, pain in the projection of the bladder, urge to urinate; sometimes false urge to urinate, an admixture of blood in the urine – all these symptoms indicate disorders in the genitourinary system. If cystitis occurs every time within 24 hours after each act of love, then it is very insulting !!! BUT THERE IS AN OUTPUT.

Cystitis after sex: causes

The most common causes of cystitis after intimacy:

1. Features of the structure and functioning of a particular female body (short and wide urethra, next to natural reservoirs of infection – anus, vagina; sometimes developmental abnormalities – dystopia, urethral hypermobility).
2. Concomitant inflammation in the cervix and vagina is common.
3. Some hormonal disorders (for example, a decrease in estrogen levels, which leads to a thinning of the mucous barrier, vaginal dysbiosis and the reproduction of pathogenic microflora in it) can also become a background.
4. Frequent change of sexual partners, intimate technique and mistakes in hygiene can be important.
5. The nature of the contraceptives used.

What to do in an acute situation

Immediately, before taking medications, it is advisable to collect urine for analysis and hand it over to the nearest laboratory.At Positivmed we carry out all types of such analyzes. With the test results, it is important to consult a gynecologist as soon as possible. Yes, to the gynecologist! And this is not a mistake.

What the gynecologist will do

• The doctor will conduct an examination, assess the nature of the discharge from the cervix and vagina. Often there is inflammation in this area as a source of torment.
• If you have not been examined before, then smears for latent infections must be taken (precisely against the background of complaints !!!).Preferably before starting antimicrobial medication.
• The doctor, if necessary, can take a culture (both urine and female secretions – to clarify the sensitivity of pathogens to antimicrobial drugs), as well as do an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder (to exclude urolithiasis or inflammation).

How you can alleviate the condition yourself

• Strengthen the drinking regime.
• Dry heat – Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to the painful area.
• Take Monural : it is a powder (in a sachet – 3 g). Dilute in water and drink after emptying (!) The bladder, preferably at night.

What to do if cystitis attacks recur

1. Together with the doctor, based on the smear results, select the most effective medications and prophylactic agents.
2. Drink more liquid.
3. We’ll have to apply special hygiene. Immediately after intercourse – urinate, hygiene without drying agents, lubricate the entrance to the urethra with antibacterial ointments: Fagogin-gel , Levomekol , etc.(consult a doctor depending on the situation).
4. For initial symptoms of discomfort: apply phytouroseptics ( Canephron, Fitolysin , kidney tea, etc.), dry heat.

Women need to understand that the problem of postcoital cystitis can be solved. The main thing is not to be shy and not to think that this is how it should be and that it is impossible to change in any way, and consult a doctor .

In St. Petersburg, I recommend the clinic Positivmed at Moskovsky – 202, which specializes in female and of course male diseases in the area of ​​urinary and genital organs.Here, doctors with extensive experience and a high positive assessment from the patients conduct appointments. If necessary, you can make an appointment with a urologist at the Positivemed clinic or with a gynecologist at the number indicated in the website header. In some cases, it is possible to consult a doctor online!

Benign formations of subcutaneous fat | SPb GBUZ “City polyclinic No. 122”

Benign formations of subcutaneous fat | SPb GBUZ “City Polyclinic No. 122”

6

Feb

2016

Atheroma

Atheroma is a common problem that affects people of all ages and both sexes.What is the essence of this disease? This is not a tumor, but a cyst, that is, an atheroma is a “pouch” that has a capsule and is filled with thick yellowish masses, often with an unpleasant odor. It is formed as a result of blockage of the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland with thickened discharge. Atheroma develops on areas of the skin rich in sebaceous glands (scalp, face, back, anterior abdominal wall). Most often, atheroma occurs on the scalp, on the face, on the back in the form of a painless rounded dense formation on the skin.With inflammation, the skin above it turns red, the size of the cyst increases, it becomes painful.

What is the manifestation of atheroma?

Atheroma is often multiple. It is a tumor-like formation of a round shape, soft consistency in size from 5 to 40 mm and more. The skin above it is usually not changed, however, in the case of a secondary infection, inflammation, it may have a reddish tint.

Atheroma is mobile with surrounding tissues, painless.Atheroma can remain small for many years, or grow. Sometimes atheroma communicates with the surface of the skin through a small opening through which atheromatous masses (curdled, with an unpleasant odor) can be separated. Often atheroma suppurate, in addition, there may be a rupture of atheroma into the subcutaneous tissue.

If the atheroma is small and does not bother the patient, then it may not be removed. In other cases, surgical treatment is indicated. Atheromas are removed under local anesthesia (pain relief).

Atheromas and lipomas are very similar in appearance. Only a doctor can distinguish them.

What causes atheroma?

The factors that predispose to the development of atheroma are traditionally considered unfavorable environmental conditions and metabolic disorders (chronic trauma, hyperhidrosis, hormonal dysfunctions, etc.) heads, back of the neck, armpits, interscapular space, perineum, labia, scrotum.

Treatment of atheroma

Removal of atheroma is possible either surgically (excision followed by the imposition of cosmetic sutures), or, if the cyst is small, removal with a laser.

Fats (lipomas)

In official medicine, a wen is called a lipoma. This term is understood as a tumor from adipose tissue, which is evident even from the name, which consists of two Greek words: “lipos” – “fat” and “Oma” – “tumor”.The causes of the appearance of wen are still unclear.

Fat can affect not only the skin, but also adipose tissue, as well as other types of tissue (usually connective tissue).

Wen differs in density depending on the depth of penetration: the deeper it is, the denser it is. Most often, a wen forms under the skin. It is a motionless soft or elastic formation that does not cause any pain or discomfort to a person. Fat can appear on any part of the body where there is adipose tissue: on the head, leg, arm, back, even on the penis.

Ultrasound is recommended to clarify the diagnosis. When the diagnosis is confirmed and the person agrees to surgery, the tumor is removed. The same recommendations apply to wen formed on other parts of the body: legs, arms, back, abdomen, etc.

Lipoma treatment

Zhirovik does not pose a danger to the state of the human body, as it is a benign tumor. It is impossible to get rid of a lipoma simply by losing weight – the wen will not disappear, since it is still a tumor.Sometimes there is an increase in the tumor against the background of general weight loss. Fats (lipomas) are removed under local anesthesia (pain relief). In most cases, surgery will heal.

Gigroma

Hygroma is a formation consisting of a fairly well-defined capsule and a viscous jelly-like transparent content inside. It is often localized on the hand, and it is in this area that it often causes inconvenience.

There is no clear view of the cause of this scourge, like many other diseases.There is a connection with injuries, physical exertion, but in some cases the hygroma appears for no apparent reason. In this case, a slight swelling of the skin is formed, as if there is a pea or cherry inside.

The favorite localization of education is the area of ​​the wrist joint, although it happens that it appears in other places. Hygroma comes from the membranes of the joint, which, for reasons unknown to us, protruding between the ligaments and tendons surrounding the joint, form a characteristic subcutaneous formation.

It can exist for a long time without causing discomfort, but pain sometimes appears over time. Especially often, anxiety appears in people who have to work a lot with their hands. Since the hygroma is associated with the joint, it happens that fluid flows into its cavity. Then, for a while, the impression may be created that the formation has disappeared, but, as a rule, after some time it appears again.

Pre-surgical treatment

In the vast majority of cases, conservative treatments are ineffective.Attempts to puncture hygromas – suck liquid with a syringe, inject various substances there. In this case, the cavity collapses for a while, but the shell itself does not disappear anywhere, and sooner or later the liquid accumulates again.

Absolutely terrible and painful method – crushing the hygroma. In this case, the liquid is forced into the joint cavity, or the hygroma membrane is torn and the contents are poured into the tissue. Over time, at best, a relapse still occurs. At worst, in the area of ​​the injured hygroma, an inflammatory reaction can develop, up to suppuration.After crushing, sooner or later, the shell heals, restores its tightness, and the hygroma reappears.

What to do by ourselves?

If the issue with the operation has not yet been resolved, and the education begins to hurt intensely, it is advisable to try not to load the sore arm. Ideally, immobilization (creation of immobility) of the limb segment with a splint should be performed. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used locally and internally, physiotherapy has a good effect.

When to have surgery?

Hygroma is certainly not cancer, so there is no need to rush to the operation. Many people live with this formation all their lives (sometimes not with one), and do not pay any attention to it. You should think about the operation in cases where the hygroma creates an unaesthetic appearance and causes pain during movement. Another indication for surgery is the rapid growth of education. If the gyrome is clearly increasing in size, it is not worth delaying the operation, because a large formation will be more difficult to radically remove.A radical operation is the main guarantee of the absence of relapse.

Galeppo Vadim Andreevich

Head of department, surgeon

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Ingrown nail – Network of MC “Doctor Bogolyubov”

Onychocryptosis is a fairly common pathological condition that is known to a wide range of people as an ingrown nail.This disease occurs due to the increased growth of the nail plate, leading to its ingrowth into the edge of the nail fold. Most often, the outer edge of the big toe is affected. Due to the development of the inflammatory process, the affected area swells, turns red and becomes very painful.

Causes of ingrown toenails

1. Wide feet, longitudinal and transverse flat feet, hallux valgus, and other congenital anatomical disorders.

2. Excessive fat pads surrounding the nail phalanges of the toes.

3. Injuries to the nail and toes.

4. Long-term plaster immobilization, which complicates proper nail care.

5. Wearing narrow or smaller shoes.

6. Improper care of the toe nails (too short or rounded cutting of them causes the lateral lateral nail fold or skin and fatty tissue of the finger pad to crawl onto the edge of the nail plate).As a result, inflammation develops and edema appears, which over time leads to true onychocryptosis.

In the event that a too long free edge of the nail remains, this leads to a change in its shape (it becomes triangular or curled inward, towards the bony part of the nail phalanx), which also in some cases leads to ingrowth.

7. Paronychia (nail infections) and other inflammatory pathologies of the nail bed.

8. Fungal lesions of the nail plates (onychomycosis).

9. Complications of pregnancy and other pathological conditions leading to swelling of the feet and cutting of the nail plates into soft tissues.

Ingrown nail mechanism

Unfortunately, to date, the mechanism of this pathological condition has not yet been fully understood. However, experts are inclined to believe that part of the grown nail begins to grow into the skin of the periungual roller due to constant load, even with the smallest deformation.In the development of the pathological process, an important role is played by the individual structure of the nail and adjacent tissues. In the case when the nail is constantly exposed to external stress and does not experience sufficient resistance from the nail roller, this often provokes its ingrowth.

Stages of onychocryptosis

In adult patients, onychocryptosis occurs in four stages:

• At the first stage of the pathological process, swelling and hyperemia develop in the area of ​​the nail fold.At this stage, pain occurs only when the finger is squeezed.
• At stage II, the part of the nail that grows into the soft tissues of the nail fold leads to aggravation of inflammation and the development of a purulent process.
• Stage III is considered a stage of infection. Patients complain of twitching pain, and purulent discharge appears in the affected area.
• At stage IV, granulation increases in the places where soft tissues adjoin the lateral surface of the nail plate, leading to the appearance of “wild meat” (fleshy tumor-like growth).

It should be noted that the last stage of onychocryptosis, accompanied by the transition of an acute inflammatory process to a chronic one, develops for a rather long time.

Ingrown toenail: symptoms of the disease

At the site of ingrowth of the nail into the skin, swelling occurs, accompanied by hyperemia and hypothermia. With a sufficiently long course of the disease, a purulent process develops in the tissues of the nail fold, leading to the formation of ulcers.

The first sign of onychocryptosis is pain, which makes itself felt when walking. Hyperemia and swelling of the periungual tissues develop around the nail that begins to grow in. Very often people try to cut off the irritating sharp edge of the nail, but this leads to even more ingrowth of the nail plate. As a rule, after a while, an infection penetrates into the wound formed by the nail, which entails the development of purulent inflammation.

In this state, patients experience severe pain, their movement becomes problematic, sometimes it is impossible to even step on a sore limb.Gradually, necrosis of the soft periungual tissues and the nail plate itself develops. As a result, deformation of the toe occurs, making it almost impossible to wear shoes and walk.

With the transition of the inflammatory process to the chronic stage, there is a thickening of the edematous zones, purulent discharge becomes scarce or stops altogether, and the so-called “wild meat” appears on the periungual roller, arising from the growth of granulation tissue.

Ingrown toenail treatment

Ortonixia is a conservative technique that, unfortunately, is not able to completely eliminate the cause of the disease and ensure a complete recovery of the patient.This method provides for the simultaneous bending and short-term fixation of the growing part of the nail. To do this, an antibacterial ointment or a cotton swab soaked in Castellani’s solution and a spatula are placed under its edge. It should be noted that these methods, which are quite easy to perform, have to be applied for a long time (and sometimes for a lifetime). At the same time, they can be effective, but only at the earliest stages of nail ingrowth, and also, this procedure can only be trusted by a professional.That is why, back in the eighteenth century, orthonixia was sharply criticized, and from about this period, surgical methods of treating onychocryptosis began to be used in clinical practice.

Surgical treatment of an ingrown toenail

This technique includes three groups of operations:

1. Radical nail removal;
2. Removal of part of the nail plate;
3. Complete or partial removal of the nail, followed by covering the resulting defect with a skin plate.

Ingrown toenail laser treatment

The most optimal way to treat onychocryptosis today is considered to be an operation involving the use of a carbon dioxide laser. The advantage of this technique over traditional surgical intervention is great radicalism in removing the nail matrix, detailed visualization during incision and subsequent tissue evaporation, the possibility of removing inflammatory infiltrates and activation of the laser coagulation effect.

This technique has its advantages:

• It is quite effective, as it can not only eliminate the symptoms, but also the cause of onychocryptosis. After laser removal of an ingrown nail, only 1% of patients re-encounter this problem.
• The laser beam has minimal damage. It does not touch healthy tissues, but only removes the area of ​​hypergranulation.
• Due to the minimal traumatic effect, the patient avoids exposing the subungual area, and therefore does not need long-term rehabilitation.
• The laser has bactericidal properties, and therefore, during the operation, pathogens of various infections are removed from the affected area.
• And one more important advantage of laser removal of an ingrown nail is an aesthetically pleasing result and complete preservation of the natural shape of the nail plate.

Radio wave treatment of onychocryptosis

Radio wave treatment is a surgical method and therefore requires pain relief.