March 28th, 2010 by Stand Team

■ What is the herpetic?
Popularly known as herpetic to a process that, in medicine is called paronychia. It is an infection of the area bordering the nail, but when it is deeper can come to affect the yolk finger.

■ What it must this infection so troublesome?
Often caused by bacteria very common called staphylococcus, although it can be caused by fungi. The herpetic appears because there is a previous injury of the lining the nail, known as cuticle. That layer protects the skin of the frictions with the nail. The humidity, the products and small wounds are factors that can deteriorate the cuticle and, therefore, promote the cause of the infection.

■ If the finger swells to say that there is a herpetic?
It is probably so. The main symptoms are the swelling and pain. In the chronic cases, i.e. in which the herpetic not just to be cured and are repeated the symptoms, the nail is deformed and loses the color of its edges. The paronychia produces an intense pain that increases if pressed on the finger.

■ Is easy to heal?
If the infection is recent, many times is resolved through the implementation of wet compresses hot, rest and lifting of the affected finger. As it is an infectious process, if it is necessary to resort to a more comprehensive treatment antibiotics are given, either locally or through general. If you still do not produce a clear improvement in 24 or 48 hours, it makes it necessary to surgical intervention to remove the nail and thoroughly cleaned the area.

■ Does is to say that can cause complications?
If not treated properly can be complicated so that the infection passes to areas more profound. In this case, the swelling arrives at times to collapse the blood vessels to irrigate the final part of the bone, so that originates in it a necrosis, a process that will degrade the bone. It is also the possibility that it will spread to the tendons or other neighboring areas. In that case, it is essential a quick surgical operation for which usually requires general anesthesia.

3 Tips to prevent the paronychia:
1- In the first place, especially in the kids, we must avoid carried the finger constantly in the mouth. Those who have this bad habit are prone to form paronychia, because the continuous contact with the saliva produces a softening of bedding of the fingernail, which reduces its ability to protection before the infections.

2- The moist environment, on the other hand, facilitates the proliferation of germs such as the staphylococcus, that the download the defenses of the area take to attack.

3- Another essential care is to cut the nails, although not in exaggerated form. The edge of the nail should excel a little of the area in which joins the finger and the side edges should be cut right up to the level of the finger tip. If you are cut more deeply, as they grow incrust ran is in the fleshy portion of the finger.