paronychia

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.

par·o·nych·i·a

(par'ō-nik'ē-ă), Do not confuse this word with perionychia.

Suppurative inflammation of the nail fold surrounding the nail plate; may be due to bacteria or fungi, most commonly staphylococci and streptococci.

[para- + G. onyx, nail]

paronychia

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

paronychia

(păr′ə-nĭk′ē-ə)

n.

Inflammation of the tissue surrounding a fingernail or toenail.

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par′o·nych′i·al adj.

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.

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.

par·o·nych·i·a

(par'ō-nik'ē-ă)

Suppurative inflammation of the nail fold surrounding the nail plate; may be due to bacteria or fungi, most commonly staphylococci and streptococci.

[para- + G. onyx, nail]

paronychia

(par-o-nik'e-a) [? + onyx, nail]

PARONYCHIA

An acute or chronic infection of the marginal structures about the nail. Synonym: felon; runaround; whitlow See: illustration

Symptoms

The nail edge shows redness, swelling, and suppuration.

Treatment

Therapy may involve moist heat application, oral antibiotics, or surgical drainage.

paronychia tendinosa

Inflammation of the sheath of a digital tendon owing to sepsis.

illustration

paronychia

Infection of the skin fold at the base or side of the nail. Acute paronychia is usually caused by common bacteria such as Staphylococci and often progresses to abscess formation. Persistent (chronic) paronychia is usually caused by the thrush yeast fungus Candida albicans .

Paronychia

Inflammation of the folds of skin that surround a nail.

Mentioned in: Nail Removal

paronychia

nail fold/sulcus inflammation and infection, often associated with ingrowing toenail

• acute paronychia acute inflammation, infection and pus formation of nail wall, in association with onychocryptosis (see ingrowing toenail)

• chronic paronychia infection and chronic inflammation of nail apparatus characterized by swelling and inflammation of proximal nail fold, and nail plate dystrophy (discoloration, friability and marked ridging); caused by infection with Candida albicans, Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas species

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.