Treating A Paronychia Nail Infection
When I woke up and got ready for work my nail was perfectly fine. By lunchtime I had a puss filled, sore, and red nail fold around one nail. I kept wondering if I had cut myself but I knew that I had not. I stopped by a walk in medical clinic on the way home from work and the doctor told me that I had developed an acute Paronychia Nail Infection. She explained that it is a type of bacterial or staph infection that we could treat with topical medications. She also recommended that I soak my hand in a mixture of antibiotic liquid soap and warm water for about 15 minutes a day.
I was not clear on how I got the infection in the first place and the doctor said these infections are more common in people who's hands are in water a lot. Mine are not but I have been doing a lot of gardening lately and the doctor thinks I may have had a small cut and it blew up into an infection. While at the appointment the doctor gave me a shot of lidocaine and drained the small amount of yellow puss that had developed under nail skin fold. Even thought this Paronychia Nail infection was pretty nasty I was glad that the doctor knew what it was and how to treat it so quickly.
Of course when I got home that night I had to do some research on infections including a Paronychia Nail Infection. I learned that in addition to the acute kind that I had that some people get chronic Paronychia Nail Infections. For them the infection spreads from one finger to another. Sometimes they will have 2-3 fingers that are all infected at the same time. I am glad that this is just an acute case for me. There are people who work with their hands in water a lot who suffer from these infections on a regular basis. For them it is important to keep their hands clean and as bacterial free as is possible. This infection, even though it came on rather quickly, was kind of painful. I noticed that my finger felt better right after the doctor drained the puss.
In the future if I notice that I am developing a Paronychia Nail Infection I will begin using the antibacterial soap and water soak right away. Hopefully, I will be able to keep the infection at bay. I am also keeping my nails coated with a clear nail strengthener/hardener as a deterrent. For right now I am glad to be past this and happy to have my hands and nails healthy again.
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