Many people have experienced hand infections commonly referred to as “inflammation”. Hand infections can be “minor”, but ignoring them or mishandling them can lead to “major”. Here we will get to know the common “little things” of hand infections. Hand infections can occur in any part of the fingers and palms including the skin, subcutaneous tissue, tendon sheaths, joints and even within the bone marrow cavity and the interstices of the fingers and palms. The cause of infection can be localized or part of the whole body. Local factors include trauma, burns, animal bites, etc. The presence or absence of infection is related to the number and type of bacteria contaminated at the time of injury and the virulence of the bacteria. When the infection is part of a systemic disease, the patient often has a combination of malnutrition, use of oncology drugs or hormones, acquired or autoimmune deficiencies, etc. Infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It can be a single factor or multiple factors, such as a Staphylococcus aureus infection, or a mixed infection such as a combination of Gram-positive and negative bacteria, or a combination of bacteria and viruses. So what should I do if I have an infection in my hand? Is it enough to disinfect and take some anti-inflammatory tablets? Some healthy people can do this, but most hand infections require professional treatment. Nail infections are the most common type of hand infection. However, not all nail infections require nail extraction. Only pus accumulation under the nail and floating nail plate require nail extraction. In the case of nail infections, it is necessary to cut and drain the nail at the right time (when the abscess is mature) and at the right place “the softest part of the abscess”, change the medication and use antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor. In the case of purulent dactylitis, especially painful throbbing at night, it is necessary to drain thoroughly, find the cause, and administer appropriate antibiotics orally or intravenously. Some people have hand infections with translucent blisters, which are often viral infections. Viral infections are a self-limiting disease and oral antibiotics are ineffective. It can be kept clean topically and can heal on its own in about 3 weeks. However, combined bacterial infections or multiple large herpes fusions should be treated symptomatically with antibiotics or/and antiviral medications, and abscesses should be drained if present. Animal bites, including human bites, require prompt disinfection and cleaning. If there is an obvious wound, especially if there is deep tissue invasion, it needs to be thoroughly debrided under anesthesia and the wound should be left open for drainage. The wound should be closed only after 5-7 days to confirm that the wound is free of infection. Antibiotics are administered according to the results of bacterial cultures. Infections within bones, joints and tendon sheaths often occur when superficial infections are incompletely or improperly treated. The etiology often has more than 3 weeks of superficial infection. Once the diagnosis is clear, a thorough debridement without pain, blood, and asepsis is required, placement of a drainage tube empirically flushed daily with antibiotics, and targeted antibiotics when the bacterial culture results are available. Wait until the flushing solution is clear, leave it for 2-3 days and flush again to confirm cleanliness before closing the wound. Many people who are bitten or stabbed by aquatic animals, such as damage from burning vegetables or stab wounds from diving, will experience redness and swelling that never goes away, and even disinfection and oral “cephalosporin” do not improve. Why is this? It turns out that this is an infection by a special type of bacteria called non-tuberculous mycobacteria. After routine disinfection, you can take oral quinolones such as sarsin or a combination of macrocyclic lipids such as azithromycin antibiotics, or even anti-tuberculosis treatment. Until one week after the disappearance of symptoms. Suspected tuberculosis infection requires professional exclusion and treatment. Deep hand infections are often easily diagnosed because of localized redness, swelling, heat, pain and even systemic symptoms. The vast majority of patients are a continuation of a superficial infection or improperly treated. Deep infections without any cause such as sepsis, and careful history taking will also reveal the cause of the patient’s immune deficiency. Prompt hospitalization, thorough debridement and drainage, and judicious use of antibiotics are necessary. Timely and effective treatment can leave no sequelae. Improper treatment can leave many regrettable sequelae. Hand infections can be big or small. If it is taken seriously and treated properly, it can become a big deal; if it is taken lightly and treated improperly, it can become a big mistake. The opinion of a professional hand surgeon is important.