Panaritium (Whitlow)

Panaritium, or colloquially paronychia (from the Greek paronychia, literally “near the nail”) is an inflammation of the periungual ridges of the fingers or toes.

Typically, felon develops due to pyogenic bacteria, most often staphylococci or streptococci, getting under the nail or in the area around it. This leads to purulent inflammation of the tissue in this area.

There are acute and chronic panaritium.

With acute panaritium, sharp pain, swelling and redness of the skin around the nail appear. The formation of an abscess may be observed.

Chronic panaritium often occurs due to repeated injuries to the periungual area. In this case, there is compaction and thickening of the skin around the nail, and a long-term existence of the abscess.

To treat felon, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and painkillers are used. When an abscess forms, it is opened to drain the pus. Sometimes minor surgical treatment of the inflammation site is required. Hygiene measures are important - hand washing, wearing gloves. In case of chronic panaritium, it is necessary to eliminate the factor causing repeated injuries to the nail fold.

Panaritium or Whitlow

Panaritium is a serious infectious disease in which the tissue around the fingers becomes inflamed. The disease can be caused by various pathogens and requires urgent medical attention.

What is panaritium

When felon occurs, the area between the skin and the soft layer of the finger – the bone – becomes inflamed. The skin in this area turns red and swells, increases in size, and swelling of the lymphatic vessels appears. After some time, the temperature rises.

This occurs due to the fact that blood circulation, tissue nutrition and fluid outflow from the inflamed area are disrupted. Fingers may become swollen and it becomes painful to move them. A throbbing pain appears. Depending on the cause, the disease will have a name.

**Serous** felon. Characterized by initial swelling of the skin. A person is injured or the hand is subjected to maceration due to impaired blood supply, and the inflammatory process of the skin and soft tissues begins. Outwardly, only slight redness and peeling of the skin at the edge of the nail is noticeable.

Symptoms of serous panaritium Serious symptoms appear when it is already difficult to endure the pain and swelling cannot be ignored. The inflammation especially worsens at night: it expands, pain increases, an abscess begins to form - felon often becomes common. A small amount of pus is often released, which is visible upon palpation.

A person with serous felon is usually treated at home, but if the inflammatory process is started, a different type of felon may appear. More than 50% of cases end in cure without the use of drugs, while the rest result in severe inflammation or even amputation. Patients may require treatment with antibiotics and then a bandage over the felon. **Hygroma** is characterized by the discharge of mucous compounds through the wound after treatment, the finger swells, the person complains that it hurts to move the finger, the skin nearby turns red and swells due to inflammation of the periosteum. If you clean the affected part correctly and remove the pus, the hygroma should go away. Your doctor may recommend a specific dressing. Grey-eye is dangerous because it does not always respond well to treatment and has a difficult course.

*After completion of treatment, you need to monitor hand hygiene, wash them daily with antibacterial soap.*

Treatment of Panaritium It is necessary to go to the hospital and receive qualified treatment. It should be carried out immediately after the first symptoms appear and before the temperature and severe swelling of the fingers. This will help avoid possible surgical intervention, damage to bones and tendons, and the development of an abscess. General recommendations are:

- taking antibiotics (if it is an infection caused by a bacterial cause); - a gentle diet avoiding spicy, salty, sour, fried foods, and alcohol. - complete exclusion of hot baths and hypothermia. As prescribed by the doctor, topical medications are prescribed - ointments to reduce inflammation and irritation. They actively process and lubricate the areas of felon. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, reduce pain, activate