Diseases & disorders 🩺🫧
In this lesson…
Paronychia nails
Paronychia nails is a common nail infection affecting the skin around the nails (cuticle or nail fold). It can be acute (sudden, painful, often bacterial) or chronic (persistent, often fungal or due to repeated irritation).
Signs:
Redness, swelling, and tenderness around the nail
Pus-filled abscess (in acute cases)
Thickened, discolored, or misshapen nails (chronic cases)
Pain when pressure is applied
Treatment:
Acute (bacterial): Warm soaks, topical antibiotics (e.g., mupirocin), or oral antibiotics (e.g., cephalexin) if severe. Drainage may be needed for abscesses.
Chronic (fungal): Antifungal creams (e.g., clotrimazole) or oral antifungals (e.g., terbinafine). Avoid moisture/irritants.
Prevention: Keep hands dry, avoid nail biting/picking, and wear gloves when exposed to water or chemicals.
Seek medical care if infection spreads or doesn’t improve.
