Is paronychia an emergency?
It is the most common infection in the hand. 1 A paronychia can be located on the fingers or the toes. It occurs in all age groups. It can cause significant pain and discomfort leading to a visit to the Emergency Department.
What causes acute paronychia?
Acute paronychia It’s usually the result of damage to the skin around the nails from biting, picking, hangnails, manicures, or other physical trauma. Staphylococcus and Enterococcus bacteria are common infecting agents in the case of acute paronychia.
How do you heal paronychia fast?
If you have acute paronychia, soaking the infected nail in warm water 3 to 4 times a day can help reduce pain and swelling. It should heal up in a few days. If the infection is very painful, doesn’t get better with home care, or has a pus-filled abscess, you may need to see your doctor.
How long does acute paronychia last?
In most cases, an acute paronychia heals within 5 to 10 days with no permanent damage to the nail. Rarely, very severe cases may progress to osteomyelitis (a bone infection) of the finger or toe. Although a chronic paronychia may take several weeks to heal, the skin and nail usually will return to normal eventually.
How do I choose the best Paronychia treatment?
If you have paronychia, an infection in the skin surrounding the fingernails or toenails, choosing the best treatment typically depends on the extent of your infection and whether the condition is acute or chronic. Mild, acute cases typically only require soaking the affected area in a mix of warm water and antibacterial soap several times a day.
What antibiotics treat Paronychia?
The antibiotics most commonly used to treat paronychia are Bactrim (TMP/SMX) and a cephalosporin named Keflex (cephalexin ). If anaerobic bacteria is suspected, Evoclin (clindamycin) or Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) may be given with Bactrim.
Can Paronychia infection spread?
Rarely, paronychia can cause permanent damage to your nail. If you have diabetes, there’s a risk that paronychia could spread to deeper tissues and bones, or into the bloodstream and other parts of the body. In extreme cases of deep infection, paronychia can result in the loss of fingers, toes, or limbs.
