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Paronychia
Paronychia refers to a bacterial infection that occurs in the area adjacent to the nailbed. This infection may appear on a finger or toe. Paronychias can result from nail-biting, an ingrown nail, nail injury, or from trimming the nails too short. Common symptoms include a very painful and throbbing finger (or toe). The tissue along the nailbed, and in some cases under it, becomes red, swollen, and tender to touching. Any downward pressure on the nail will cause pain. If not treated, this area may become more fluctuant to touching and turn whitish, indicating pus under the skin (abscess). Treatment of early infections (without abscess) includes warm soapy soaks and oral antibiotics. Once the area has formed an abscess, an incision and drainage procedure will be necessary. This involves the use of an injectable local anesthetic to numb the area of infection. An incision can be made that releases the pus from the abscessed cavity. In some cases, a piece of gauze may be left in the remaining "hole", and removed in 24 hours. Finally, soapy finger soaks can cleanse the site, if performed diligently several times a day. When one of these infections begins, immediately start warm soapy soaks and see your doctor for antibiotic treatment BEFORE an abscess forms.
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