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Paronychia - Overview

Alternative Names

Infection - skin around the nail

Definition of Paronychia:

Paronychia is a skin infection that occurs around the nails.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Paronychia is fairly common. It is usually caused by injury to the area -- for example, from biting off or picking a hangnail or from trimming or pushing back the cuticle.

  • Bacterial paronychia is caused by bacteria.
  • Candidal paronychia is caused by a specific type of yeast.
  • Fungal paronychia is caused by a fungus.

A bacterial and fungal infection may occur at the same time.

Fungal paronychia may be seen in persons with a fungal nail infection. It is also common among persons with diabetes and those who have their hands in water for long periods of time.

  • Reviewed last on: 5/13/2011
  • Michael Lehrer, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Nail Diseases. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 25.

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