Paronychia eMedicine Emergency

Description: A paronychia is a superficial infection of epithelium lateral to the nail plate. The acute painful purulent infection is most frequently caused by staphylococci. The patient's condition and discomfort are markedly improved by a simple drainage procedure.
A paronychial infection usually starts in the lateral nail fold. Occasionally, the infection includes the complete margin of skin around the nail plate. It results from mechanical separation of the nail plate from the perionychium. Early in the course of this disease process (<24 h), cellulitis alone may be present. An abscess can form if the infection does not resolve quickly.
Synonyms and related keywords: run-around, paronychial infection, onychia lateralis, onychia periungualis, inflammation of the nail fold, incision and drainage, I and D, I&D, paronychia, nail infection, superficial infection of the epithelium, staphylococci, infection of the hand, paronychia, finger infection
Murphy-Lavoie & Haydel 2006