Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Paronychia involves infections and inflammation adjacent to the fingernail.
• It commonly arises from a compromised barrier between the nail plate and nail fold.
• Causes include bacterial, fungal, and noninfectious factors like irritants or systemic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the common causes, presentations, and management of acute and chronic paronychia.
• To highlight the need for further research into optimal treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of paronychia etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment.
• Analysis of clinical presentations of acute and chronic paronychia.
• Discussion of current therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

• Acute paronychia may present with abscesses requiring drainage and antibiotics.
• Chronic paronychia has multifactorial origins and can result in significant nail deformities.
• Noninfectious causes, including irritants and medications, contribute to nail changes.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of acute paronychia includes wound care and antibiotics.
• Chronic paronychia treatment is complex due to its varied etiology and potential for nail damage.
• Further large-scale prospective studies are essential to establish evidence-based treatment guidelines.