paronychia

paronychia /par·onych·ia/ (par″-ah-nik´e-ah) inflammation involving the folds of tissue around the fingernail.

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par·o·nych·i·a (pr-nk-)

n.

Inflammation of the tissue surrounding a nail.

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paro·nychi·al adj.

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Paronychia

Inflammation of the folds of skin that surround a nail.

Mentioned in: Nail Removal

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paronychia

[per′ənik′ē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, para + onyx, nail

an infection of the fold of skin at the margin of a nail. Treatment includes hot compresses or soaks, antibiotics, and possibly surgical incision and drainage. Compare onychia.

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nail [nāl]

1. a rod of metal, bone, or other material used for fixation of the ends of fractured bones.

2. a hardened or horny cutaneous plate overlying the dorsal surface of the distal end of a finger or toe. The nails are part of the outer layer of the skin and are composed of hard tissue formed of keratin. Called also unguis.

Parts of the nail. From Dorland's, 2000.

Nail abnormalities. From Lammon et al., 1996.

ingrown nail see ingrown nail.

spoon nail a nail with a concave surface.

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paronychia

inflammation involving the folds of tissue surrounding the nail or claw. Causes much pain and often results in loss of the nail or abnormalities in its growth such as grooves, discoloration or fragility. Called also perionychia, perionychitis.

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paronychia

Nail infection Dermatology A superficial infection of the skin around nails, most commonly caused by staphylococci or fungi, often due to local injury–eg, biting off or picking a hangnail, or manipulating, trimming, or pushing back the cuticle; fungal paronychia is often associated with DM. See Onychomycosis.