Nail infections are septic infections of the soft tissues around the finger (toe) nail, caused by bacteria that grow and multiply under the skin through a minimally invasive break in the skin next to the nail. In the fingers, it is most often caused by injuries such as puncture wounds, torn flesh spurs or deep nail trimming. In the toes, it is most often caused by ingrown nails or tight shoes, mostly in the bunions. Nail fungus is most often seen in adolescents or women. It can occur in the fingers or in the toes, but in the fingers it is often caused by a bad habit of gnawing on the fingers and in the toes it is often caused by secondary infection from ingrown nails. In the toe, it is mostly caused by ingrown nails or tight shoes, mostly in the thumb. The tissue on the side of the nail is red, swollen and painful. When nail infection begins, the subcutaneous tissue on the nail side becomes red, swollen, and painful, and while some may subside on their own, others rapidly become pus-filled. The pus spreads from one side of the nail groove to the subcutaneous part of the nail root and the opposite side of the nail groove, forming a semi-annular abscess. Most nail infections do not have systemic symptoms, but if the nail is not cut and drained, the abscess can spread under the nail and become an abscess under the nail, and yellowish-white pus can be seen under the nail, which separates the nail from the nail bed. Abscesses under the nail can be caused by direct stabbing of the nail with a foreign object or traumatic hematoma infection under the nail. If left untreated, it can become chronic onychomycosis or chronic phalangeal osteomyelitis. In chronic onychomycosis, there is a small pus sinus opening with granulation tissue protruding outward from the nail groove. Chronic onychomycosis can sometimes be followed by fungal infections. Daily protection
Take care of the skin around the nail and do not damage it in any way, and do not cut your nails too short or pull out the “barbs” with your hands. Prevention is better than cure. Wooden thorns, bamboo thorns, sewing needles, fish bone thorns, etc. are the easiest foreign objects to pierce the nail groove in daily life, so you should be extra careful when participating in labor or busy with household chores. Pay attention to the care of your fingers and do not cut your nails too short. If there is a small injury to the finger, apply 2% iodine and bandage it with a band-aid to prevent infection. If the pus has become septic, you should go to the hospital in time to cut it open and drain the pus out. Prevent the infection from spreading and causing osteomyelitis of the finger bone. If pus accumulates under the nail, the nail should be removed to facilitate adequate drainage and complete healing. Acute nail fungus
It begins as a small patch of inflammation in the posterior nail crease area. Inflammation may spread rapidly to the entire nail groove or even form an abscess under the nail. Most of the time, one nail is involved. The local pain is severe and pulsating, and it increases when the arm is lowered, so the patient often holds the hand in front of the chest. The inflamed finger throbs painfully with the heartbeat, and as the saying goes, the pain in the finger is so intense that even the heart is noticeable to the touch. The symptoms of inflammation are mostly uneven and pitted nails. There may be green, yellow or black infections under the nail. The nail groove may become red and swollen, and the gap may widen so that dirt can easily accumulate there. There are usually multiple infected fingers. Severe pain rarely occurs. If left untreated, it can last for years.