Purulent nail bed inflammation
In acute nail bed inflammation, pathogens penetrate the tissue through small wounds, causing redness and swelling. After some time, pus can form, which is very painful. Pus is usually caused by an infection with bacteria and is an immune response of the body to the inflammatory stimulus.
Due to the anatomical structures in the area of the hand and toenails, pus cannot drain off easily to the outside. For this reason, the spread of the infection into surrounding soft tissue structures, such as bones and tendon sheaths, is even favored in the case of a purulent nail bed inflammation. Therefore, the purulent nail bed inflammation must be treated as quickly as possible.
In some cases, purulent nail bed inflammation requires a minor surgical procedure under local or general anesthesia. In order for the pus to drain off, the pus must be cut open, sometimes an opening must be created through the nail or the nail must be removed. The resulting wound must then be cleaned and re-bandaged daily, preferably under close medical supervision.
Before the surgical procedure, an x-ray can provide information on how far the purulent infection has spread to adjacent tissue or even to the bone. It is therefore necessary to drain the pus in order to avoid possible blood poisoning and to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the body. In addition, the pus-filled swelling of the skin is very painful and the opening of the pus blister is often perceived as beneficial, as the pressure pain improves immediately and the discomfort subsides.
As a medical layman, one should refrain from any manipulation of a pus-filled area and not independently try to prick the nail bed inflammation or to express it. This could lead to a dangerous carry-over of the germs into deeper tissue layers and further complications, in the worst case it can lead to blood poisoning (sepsis). If the pus drains off by itself, for hygienic reasons the open wound may only be treated with gloves, disinfectant and sterile dressing material.
In addition, the hands should be washed thoroughly after each dressing change and body orifices and other persons should be protected from pus to prevent the spread of germs (phlegmons). Infants, babies and toddlers are relatively prone to nail bed inflammation. Small injuries in the nail area occur quickly when grasping and playing, and it is often not easy to cut the small finger and toe nails.
Especially the toenails should be cut as straight as possible to prevent nail bed inflammation or ingrowing of the toenail in babies. If an acute nail bed inflammation occurs, the baby often cries out more and more, and a strong redness, swelling and possibly pus formation is noticeable on the affected nail. Babies do not yet have such a well-developed body’s own defence system as adults, which is why an inflammation of the nail bed can spread faster in the body and lead to fever, chills or increased tiredness.
For this reason, it is important to detect and treat nail bed inflammation in a baby early on.It is advisable to consult a physician, especially if it is a more advanced form of nail bed inflammation. In this case, it may be necessary to open up the suppurative focus followed by disinfection. The use of ointments and solutions that have a disinfecting and antibacterial effect may relieve the baby’s discomfort under certain circumstances. However, only preparations that are approved for babies should be used.
