The most common type of nail infection is called paronychia (pronounce it “pare-ah-NICK-ee-ah”). It develops along the edges of the fingernail (it can happen in toenails, too) and if left untreated, can spread and infect the entire digit. This type of infection is most often caused by bacteria that enters damaged skin – skin that has been broken by nail biting, finger sucking, or harsh chemicals such as dish detergents. It can also be due to a fungus, normally from having wet hands for long periods of time (professional house cleaners, for example, or dish washers).
A paronychia starts out as an area of redness and swelling around the nail that’s very sore to the touch. If the redness extends beyond the edge of the nail, encompassing the pad of the finger, call your doctor. That could be an indication that a more serious infection of the entire finger is occurring. If the area becomes yellow or greenish in color, it means that there is pus collecting under the skin (an abscess) – and that’s a very good reason to seek medical attention. Abscesses will require drainage, but it must be done by a doctor; it’s very dangerous to attempt it at home because it could lead to further infection. If you can’t move the joints of that particular finger, bypass the phone call to the doctor and go straight to the emergency room. An infection as severe as this may be accompanied by fever and chills, but even if it isn’t, it still needs prompt medical attention.
If you catch it at the first sign of redness, you can treat a paronychia yourself, right at home. Simply soak the affected nail in a solution of fifty percent warm water and fifty percent antibacterial soap for about fifteen minutes, three to four times a day, until the redness and pain go away.
If you seek medical attention for a paronychia due to an abscess, the doctor will first numb the area, and then drain the pus. Sometimes packing will be placed into the abscess, called a wick, to allow for continued drainage and to keep the skin from closing up and forming another abscess. After the doctor has drained the abscess, warm soaks (as described above) are usually suggested. Antibiotics are only prescribed if the infection has gone beyond the nail into the rest of the finger.
To prevent paronychia, you should take the proper precautions: