Paronychia

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? A paronychia (pair-uh-nik-e-uh) is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. With treatment, the infection should be gone in 2 weeks to 6 months. You may get this infection again. Nails with fungal paronychias may take 3 to 6 months to look normal again.

Causes: A paronychia is caused by either a germ called a bacteria (bak-teer-e-uh), or by a fungus. An injury, such as a torn hangnail, can let bacteria into the broken skin causing the infection. You may also get a paronychia by cutting your fingernails or toenails too short. The short nail then grows into the skin, lifting it and breaking it open. This allows germs to get into the skin. Fungus or yeast may get into to skin that is wet a lot. Gardeners who do not wear gloves may get fungal paronychias.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Bacterial Paronychia: The skin around the nail may hurt or feel tender. It may also look red, swollen, feel warm, or itch. Some of the skin may be filled with pus.
  
  
• Fungal Paronychia: The skin around the nail may be swollen and red. It should not feel warm, tender, itchy, or have pus in it. Nails often look green or brown.

Care: If there is pus, you may need antibiotic (an-ti-bi-ah-tik) medicine to treat the infection. Your caregiver may need to make a cut in the infected skin to drain the pus.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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