Therapy

Since the nail bed inflammation is usually recognized in an early stage, it is usually sufficient to simply open the pustule with a small needle and then disinfect it with an antiseptic ointment such as Betaisodona® ointment. If it is a more advanced form of superficial nail bed inflammation, a physician should be consulted very promptly, so that he can either prescribe an antibiotic-containing ointment, for example with ampicillin, or clean out the wound area. In babies and infants, debridement is usually performed under local anesthesia, as this can be very painful for the children.

The affected fingers or hand are then immobilised. In the case of a deep form of nail bed inflammation, i.e. when tendons, bones and/or joints are also affected, an oral or intravenous form of antibiotic therapy is chosen depending on the severity of the disease and the pathogen. It should be noted that antibiotics are only effective in the most common forms of nail bed inflammation, i.e. infections with bacteria such as staphylococci or streptococci, but not infections with fungi or viruses.

Antimycotics should be chosen in the case of an infection with fungi and antivirals in the case of a viral infection. There are a number of home remedies that can be used to treat nail bed inflammation in babies. First, as always with inflammation, heat should be avoided.

One can carefully cool the affected area. Here, curd wraps are a good idea, because they are not too cold, so they cannot lead to frostbite, and can be easily adapted to the shape of the nail. To do this, fill a kitchen towel or spit cloth with some cold, fresh quark, wrap it up and place this “bag” on the inflamed area.

There it can be left until it is no longer cold. The inflamed area should also always be kept clean. Pure alcoholic disinfectants can be used, but should only be used carefully, as they burn strongly in open places.

Disinfectants containing iodine are better.Before that, however, always use a lukewarm footbath with a little soap, for example baby shampoo, to clean the inflamed area. Since the little ones like to suck and play around with everything they can get their hands on, it is advisable to cover the area with a plaster. Moist chamomile tea bags, rosemary baths and marigold flower baths also have an anti-inflammatory effect and can be used.

But always be careful: the tea bag should not be warm and the baths should be carried out with lukewarm water. There are various homeopathic remedies that can be used for nail bed inflammation. For purulent inflammations, medicines containing hepar sulfaris can help.

Long lasting, persistent inflammations can be treated with Silicea terra, silica. Remedies containing belladonna help with pulsating pain, for stabbing pain those containing Apis mellifica. Before taking them, however, a doctor or homeopath should be consulted, because depending on the exact constellation of symptoms, other medications may also have a positive effect.