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Clinical features

Authoring team

Classically only one nail is involved

  • disease is characterized by rapid appearance of erythema, oedema, together with proximal and lateral nail fold discomfort or tenderness seen two to five days following trauma.
  • initial presentation may be limited to superficial infection and collection of pus under the nail fold (when the nail fold is compressed pus drains out)
  • if left untreated it may lead to subungual abscess with pain and inflammation of the nail matrix
    • the nail may appear discoloured or even distorted (2)
    • accumulation of pus can cause elevation of the nail plate (1)
  • recurrent cases may progress into chronic paronychia (1)

Reference:

  1. Leggit JC. Acute and chronic paronychia. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jul 1;96(1):44-51.
  2. Rerucha CM, Ewing JT, Oppenlander KE, Cowan WC. Acute Hand Infections. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Feb 15;99(4):228-236.

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