Paronychia should not be considered a trivial disorder: if neglected, the inflammation can extend to the deep structures of the finger, causing serious consequences, such as tenosynovitis.
Diagnosis is basically based on inspection of the affected area. Treatment consists of "adequate therapy with antibiotics or antifungals (depending on the etiological agent) and may include the drainage of any pus.
or feet. The inflammatory process is usually acute, but recurrent or persistent cases (chronic paronychia) also occur.or other microorganisms, which are commonly found on the skin. If these manage to penetrate through skin damaged by trauma, even a minor one such as a scratch or sting, they are capable of triggering an infection.
Nail biting, finger sucking, washing dishes without gloves, or using irritating chemicals are behaviors that increase the risk of developing paronychia.
Acute paronychia
In acute paronychia, the microorganisms involved are usually Staphylococcus aureus o Streptococci and, less commonly, Pseudomonas or Proteus spp. These microorganisms penetrate through an epidermal lesion caused by the detachment of a nail cuticle flap, by trauma to the nail sulcus or by chronic irritation, such as prolonged contact with water and detergents. In the big toes, infection is often a consequence of a "ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis).
Chronic paronychia
Chronic paronychia almost always appears in people with chronically wet hands (eg, dishwashers, bartenders and servants), especially if they are diabetic or immunosuppressed.
Other causes
Often, the onset of paronychia is involved Candida, but its etiological role is unclear; the eradication of the fungi does not always coincide, in fact, with the resolution of the pathological process (it could therefore be an irritative dermatitis with secondary fungal colonization).
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