Finger Infection
Infection around the nail, fingertip pulp or deeper tissues can progress quickly in the confined spaces of a finger.
Paronychia
Paronychia is infection of the skin and soft tissue around the nail fold. Early cases may improve with local care, while an abscess may need drainage.
Felon
A felon is an infection of the fingertip pulp. Because the pulp is divided by fibrous septa, pressure can rise and cause severe throbbing pain.
Other infections
Skin infection can spread into deeper tissue, joints, bone or tendon sheaths. Diabetes, immune suppression and delayed treatment can increase risk.
Assessment
The clinician looks for an abscess, drainage, tenderness, spreading redness and signs of deeper involvement. Imaging may be used when foreign body, fracture or bone infection is possible.
Treatment
Treatment can include local care, antibiotics and drainage depending on the site and severity. Deep-space infections need specialist management.
Prevention
Avoid biting nails or cuticles, clean wounds promptly and seek assessment when swelling or pain is increasing rather than improving.
Rapidly increasing swelling, fever, severe throbbing pain, red streaking, loss of movement or pain with passive finger extension needs urgent assessment.