Scrapes and small cuts on the hand can easily occur when handling tools or doing gardening or housework and are often not given further attention. However, if symptoms persist, hand infections must also be considered.
What are hand infections?
Hand infections often develop after an injury due to germs that can more easily penetrate the skin through the wound. On the inside of the hand, they can penetrate deep into the tissues because the skin there is particularly firmly attached to the underlying tissue layers. The same applies to the tissue on the flexor side of the fingers. Hand infections are divided into the forms panaritium, paronychia and phlegmon, depending on the type of infection. Panaritium is a general term for an infection on the fingers, which can occur in the joint as well as under a nail and also under the skin. Paronychia, on the other hand, is an infection on the lower part of the nail bed, the so-called nail wall. Phlegmon is a hand infection of the hollow hand or tendon sheaths. Here, the fingers are not affected.
Causes
The causes of hand infections of all three forms are often staphylococci or fungi, which can invade the skin after a self-inflicted injury. Handling tools, nail care, or animal bite wounds can also lead to hand infections. Once the germs have entered through the wound, inflammation occurs. Certain pre-existing conditions can more easily lead to hand infections. These include patients with immunodeficiency, but also cancer patients and diabetics. Circulatory disorders also favor the development of hand infections.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Hand infections such as paronychia or phlegmon are initially manifested by inflammation in the affected area of the hand or finger. Sometimes pustules or swellings form that hurt when pressure is applied. As the disease progresses, pain on movement may also occur, which can spread to the entire hand. Depending on the type and severity of the infection, the nerves of the hand may also be affected. In this case, paralysis or sensory disturbances may occur. In addition, typical signs of illness such as fever and malaise occur. The hand feels hot and is very sensitive to pressure. Those affected usually feel a throbbing pain. Externally, a hand infection can be recognized primarily by the visible redness. This usually appears shortly after infection with the pathogen and increases in size over the first few days. Eventually, a blister or swelling forms. The hand infection usually clears up on its own, provided the affected person observes strict personal hygiene and otherwise takes it easy. In severe cases, the infection can progress further and spread to other areas of the body. This can be recognized by an increasing feeling of illness and severe pain in the hand.
Diagnosis and course
The physician can easily recognize hand infections on the basis of the described complaints such as pain, a swelling and the existing restriction of movement. The hand is additionally very sensitive to pressure and warmer compared to a healthy hand. All these symptoms already indicate an inflammatory reaction. If the hand infection progresses further, the patient may experience a general feeling of illness with fever and chills. The lymph nodes in the armpits are also swollen and give the doctor a further indication of inflammation. This can be detected with a blood test. To find out what type of germ is involved, a swab is taken from the wound. If deeper soft tissues or bones and joints are already affected by hand infections, an X-ray, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT (computer tomography) must also be used to determine how far the infection has progressed.
Complications
In most cases, hand infections do not lead to any particular complications and do not need to be treated by a doctor. They relatively often heal on their own if the hands are cared for and a high standard of hygiene is maintained. Without treatment, hand infections primarily result in severe pain.This pain can occur under stress or also in the form of pain at rest, leading to sleep problems at night. Likewise, the hands are reddened and possibly covered with spots and swollen. The movement of the fingers and hands is severely restricted by the hand infections and the pain, which can lead to limitations and complications in everyday life. Under certain circumstances, the affected person can no longer perform his or her professional activities due to the hand infections. Due to the infection itself, patients often suffer from fever and pain in the extremities. Further, headaches and chills also occur. Hand infections are treated with the help of antibiotics and painkillers. There are no further complications if the affected person takes care of his hands and rests. If the affected person does not pay attention to sufficient hygiene, blood poisoning can also occur. This leads in many cases to death.
When should one go to the doctor?
Since hand infections can spread to other areas and regions of the body and cause discomfort and complications there, hand infections should always be treated by a doctor. The doctor should be consulted if the typical symptoms of hand infections occur after a cut or other injury to the hand. These include burning and stabbing pain accompanied by redness. Swelling can also occur on the hand and lead to a restriction in movement. Usually, severe hand pain also indicates a hand infection. Furthermore, an infection can lead to fever or paralysis of the hand. If these symptoms occur, immediate treatment by a physician is necessary in any case. Hand infections can be treated by a general practitioner. Only in severe cases it is necessary to visit a hospital. Normally, a positive course of the disease occurs quickly.
Treatment and therapy
Therapy as early as possible prevents the spread of infection. A graze wound should be treated at home with disinfectant if possible and then protected with a plaster. If such a wound does not improve within a few days, a doctor must be consulted. Therapy then involves treating the wound and taking an antibiotic. In case of severe pain, additional painkillers can also be taken. It is also very important to check the current vaccination status against tetanus. If necessary, a booster vaccination is required. In the case of hand infections that are more advanced, surgery is unavoidable because the affected skin tissue must be removed. If the infection is not stopped, the patient risks losing fingers or the hand. The development of blood poisoning (sepsis) must also be prevented. If necessary, the resulting wound is treated with a drain and must be rinsed regularly. The dressing must then be changed daily. In order to further promote wound healing in hand infections, the arm is immobilized and the patient should also keep exertion to a minimum. With appropriate treatment, hand infections resolve quickly.
Outlook and prognosis
Infection in the hand is usually caused by bacteria. To give an exact outlook and prognosis in relation to the course of the disease is difficult, because this depends on many different factors. In addition, the overall course of the disease is very much influenced by whether the affected person sees a doctor or whether the person decides entirely against medical and drug treatment. If the affected person decides in favor of medical and drug treatment, then nothing stands in the way of a complete and rapid recovery. With appropriate or anti-inflammatory drugs, the existing inflammation can be inhibited quickly and effectively. The situation is different, however, if the affected person decides completely against treatment with medication. Under certain circumstances, the infection spreads throughout the entire body, so that in the worst case scenario, an infection can occur. There is a risk of blood poisoning, so that there is an acute danger to life. In the event of an infection, an appropriate doctor should be consulted immediately. This can have a positive effect on the entire healing process.
Prevention
Hand infections can be prevented when working with tools or in the garden only by using appropriate protective gloves. It is important to monitor the healing process of any injury. If the wound does not recover on its own or its condition worsens after a few days, a doctor must be consulted to rule out hand infections.
Aftercare
The options for aftercare in hand infections depend very much on the exact nature and severity of the infection, so no general prediction can be made in this regard. In some cases, there may be no aftercare at all, or it may not be necessary, so that only ordinary treatment by a physician is required. In the case of hand infections, the affected person should see a doctor at the first symptoms and signs to avoid further complications or discomfort. The earlier a doctor is consulted, the better is usually the further course of this complaint. As a rule, hand infections do not reduce the life expectancy of the affected person. After such an infection has healed, the palms should not be loaded. Work that would affect the entire hands should be refrained from. A bandage can also protect against further infections. Likewise, the affected person should apply cream and grease to his or her hands to prevent cracked skin. If the hand infections are treated by taking antibiotics, the affected person should ensure that they are taken regularly and also the correct dosage. Antibiotics should not be taken together with alcohol in this case, otherwise their effect will be alleviated.
What you can do yourself
In the case of hand infections, the first thing to do is to follow the doctor’s instructions regarding wound care and taking medication. The infections or wounds should be cleaned and cared for at home regularly and as prescribed. If necessary, the wound should be washed and dressings changed. Appropriate hygienic measures will help the infections to subside more quickly and the hand will be able to bear weight again more quickly. Under no circumstances should wounds be scratched open, and contact with cosmetics and other substances should be avoided. In principle, the affected hand should be protected by the patient and not subjected to any or only minor stress. Necessary work and hand movements are to be carried out with the other hand, but even here overexertion is possible and must be prevented. This is because the risk of tendonitis is particularly high if the replacement hand is the normally weak hand, i.e. the left hand in the case of right-handed patients. Overall, it is advisable to get plenty of rest and keep the physical strain on the body and hands to a minimum. It is also important to take prescribed medications as prescribed and be aware of any side effects to promote overall well-being.
