Ingrown Fingernail

Herpetic whitlow also known as finger herpes or hand herpes is a viral infection of the fingers. The virus that causes this infection is the herpes simplex virus.  This infection causes painful small pus filled blisters that usually appear in clusters on the finger and on and around the fingernail.   This infection is  very contagious and can be transferred easily to other body parts.  

Herpetic whitlow can be a result of the finger touching a part of the body that is already infected by the herpes virus such as the mouth, the vagina, the penis or the anus. The virus can also be contracted by a healthy human touching someone’s body parts who has HSV.  The virus usually gets into the finger by a crack in the skin on the finger or around the nail.  Having a hangnail increases the risk, as it allows the virus to enter the fingernail bed and set up infection.

Certain people are more at risk of contracting the infection than others. Children are especially at a higher risk for contracting the painful virus.  This is due to them sucking their fingers, and if they have a cold sore or other type of herpes virus activity in their mouth, the virus is easily transformed to the fingers.  Healthcare workers such as those that work as a dentist are also at increased risk. They are at increased risk because they may place their hands into the mouths of patients who have herpes. Also health care workers who work in the field of obstetrics and gynecology are at a higher risk, as they can come into contact with patients who have genital herpes.

Symptoms of herpetic willow include burning, tingling, itching and pain at the site of infection.  Clusters of fluid filled blisters that are usually bright red and are very itchy are another symptom. There may also be red streaks on the finger, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the elbow and underarm areas.

The fluid filled blisters can take up to two weeks to heal. The healing period includes the blisters rupturing, crusting over and then finally going away until the next episode. There are certain things that can trigger an episode such as over-exposure to sunlight,  illness, stress and surgical procedures.

Herpetic willow is a serious and painful infection whose risk can be minimalized with good personal care,  testing for the herpes infection and precautionary measures such as wearing gloves.

Technorati Tags: herpetic whitlow

Herpetic Whitlow is a very painful viral infection caused by the herpes virus. We don’t want our children or even ourselves to be exposed to this virus. It can be avoided, even if you are surrounded by people who have infections. Dental and medical workers have the biggest risk in getting this infection, so these individuals should be more cautious about preventing contracting herpetic whitlow.

Let us start at home. If you have kids who are thumb sucking, try to stop them from this practice. Continuous sucking of thumbs will possibly get the infection from their mouth, especially if they have a cold sore. This infection can easily be transmitted to other parts of your body, but especially the thumb since children like to chew their thumb. If you are applying treatment to your child, wash your hands immediately right after you apply the treatment to prevent a possible virus transmission.

If you are already exposed to herpes simplex virus type 1, avoid touching your lips, mouth, face, nose or other parts of your body so that it won’t spread and it won’t transfer to your index finger or thumb. If you already have herpetic whitlow, avoid rubbing your eyes as the infection may transfer to your eyes. It is also recommended for you to switch to eye glasses for a while if you are wearing contact lens, so you won’t have to touch your eyes. Prevent your fingers from touching your face. You can cover your fingers with bandages or plasters if you cannot control touching your face.

For couples who are infected by genital herpes, try to prevent sexual contact for a while and wait for the infection to heal. Never share flannels or towels and toiletries with your partner.  Prevent holding hands with one another.

For medical workers and dental workers, wear gloves while you are in your workplace. Limit your exposure to patients, especially if there are open blisters. Wash your hands or sanitize your hands after you have physical contact with your patients.

If you wash and clean your hands regularly with soaps, you have a better chance to prevent this kind of infection. Personal hygiene is very important so bacteria and virus won’t invade your hands. Always remember to avoid touching people who have a herpetic whitlow infection in order to safe guard yourself from this infection and to avoid major problems and complications in the future.

Technorati Tags: herpetic whitlow

A finger infection that is caused by a virus is called herpetic whitlow. Reddening of the skin and swelling of the finger are common symptoms and signs of herpetic whitlow. The noticeable signs are the blisters and lesion on the infected finger. You may feel unbearable pain from this infection. But, what really causes herpetic whitlow?

                                                   
This infection can infect people of all ages, from young kids to adults. For children, the primary cause is thumb sucking. Children have a habit of chewing their fingers, especially the thumb. This should really be stopped, especially if the child is exposed to herpes simplex virus 1 or HSV1. This virus usually infects the nose, face, mouth or lips, so if the child has HSV1 or cold sores in the mouth, his or her finger and thumb will get infected by this virus.  For adults, herpes simplex virus 2 or HSV2 is possible, but the percentage of people exposed to HSV2 is low. This usually occurs in genitals or buttocks and once they have touched their genitals or buttocks, their hands or fingers will get infected by HSV2.

Health workers or dental workers are more likely to be exposed to this infection. They have physical contact to the people who may have herpes simplex virus or HSV1, so it is very convenient for the virus to enter their hands. Because of the working environment, their surroundings can easily be contaminated by the herpes virus and can easily diffuse to another person. Having cuts or wounds on your hands or fingers will increase the risk of contracting the virus. It is highly recommended for these workers to wear gloves all the time for their own protection.

For people who already have HSV1, be careful not to touch the infected area. The virus is highly contagious and it is easy to transfer to your hands once you have touched the infected area. Be cautious so that you do not spread the virus further. And for those who have HSV2 or genital herpes, it is advisable to prevent sexual contact to avoid transferring the virus to another person.

Even if this infection heals on its own, it is advisable to have your fingers diagnosed by the doctor to determine if there are other complications. This is especially important if you have some history of another sickness that might prolong the infection. Having a history of diabetes may add complications to your herpetic whitlow, so it is best to have an examination.

Technorati Tags: herpetic whitlow

Herpetic whitlow is a viral infection to the finger due to the herpes simplex virus. It is wise to become knowledgeable of the symptoms and signs of herpetic whitlow so you would know what to do to prevent this infection from becoming severe. Because there are also other kinds of infections, it may be confusing to identify which infection you have. It is also important to address your problem as soon as possible to avoid complications.

                                                         
The usual locations for this infection are the index finger and thumb, but sometimes other fingers are included. Most of the cases in children are in the thumb due to thumb sucking. The first sign for this infection is fever. You may feel unwell for quite some time. Then you will notice the swelling of the infected finger and redness of the skin. Blisters will appear and small wounds will develop. Under the blisters is a collection of pus. There may also be a burning sensation. Itchiness is also present in herpetic whitlow. You will feel extreme pain, that’s why you may need to take some Ibuprofen or apply an ice pack or cool compress to the infected thumb and index finger to relieve some of the pain. You may also notice swollen lymph nodes in your armpit or elbow.

It takes 2 – 20 days for the signs and symptoms to appear after you have exposed your finger or hand to the herpes simplex virus. Sometimes the virus is latent or inactive, so you might not see the signs immediately. Symptoms appear gradually. You will have fever first and after a couple of weeks the burning sensation begins. Swelling, severe pain and reddening of your finger will occur next. After a week or two, blisters or lesions filled with pus will come out. This infection is a self-limited infection, which means it gets healed on its own over a period of time but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to cure your infection faster.

When you think your infection is getting worse and worse, better seek medical help. After a thorough examination, your attending doctor will help you cure your infection. Next time, be cautious and more careful so you won’t experience this kind of infection again. Observe proper cleanliness and hygiene. As much as possible, avoid direct contact with people who have herpes simplex virus or HSV1 and herpes simplex virus or HSV2 to protect yourself from herpetic whitlow.  

Technorati Tags: herpetic whitlow

Herpetic whitlow is one type of finger infection and the only infection that is caused by a virus. Others are caused by bacteria. You may feel really uncomfortable if you have this infection because it is very painful. There are also blisters and lesions in the affected fingers. This infection usually targets the index finger and thumb.

Herpetic whitlow, which also has different names such as hand herpes, digital herpes or finger herpes, is caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) are the two types of herpes virus. HSV1 usually occurs on lips, mouth, nose, hands or face, while HSV2 occurs in genitals or buttocks.

How do people get a herpetic whitlow infection? Since it is a virus, it is contagious and people with direct contact to the individuals with HSV1 or HSV2 virus may tend to receive the virus from them, especially if they have open wound, cuts or broken cuticle. Medical or dental workers are prone to this infection since they have direct contact to their patients. Children may also suffer from this infection, especially for those who are sucking their thumbs. If those children are positive with HSV1 or cold sores, they are more likely to get a herpetic whitlow infection.

The symptoms of this infection are the redness of the affected area, swelling, blisters and lesions, strong pain, burning sensation, swelling of lymph nodes and fever. Initially, fever comes first and other symptoms appear 2- 20 days after you contracted the virus.

You can prevent this by not using the towel of the person with an infected finger. Also, you have to wash your hands frequently to ensure cleanliness. It is also important for you to have a strong immune system so it would be hard for the virus to enter your body easily. Do not put your fingers or hands on your mouth or face if you haven’t washed your hands first after you had direct physical contact with a patient. For health workers, it is really advisable to wear gloves so your hands are safe, even when you have physical contact with the patients.

If you notice your herpetic whitlow becoming serious, go to the doctor immediately to assist you and give you proper medication for your infection. Doctors will diagnose the problem and will prescribe antibiotics or pills that will reduce pain and severeness of the infection. Don’t take herpetic whitlow lightly because it may lead to the loss of a finger.

Technorati Tags: herpetic whitlow