Hi
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A whitlow is an infection of tip of finger. The infection can be due to Herpes Simplex virus 1 and 2 or due to bacterial infection. Symptoms include a swollen painful finger tip. Treatment is by antibiotic or antiviral therapy depending on the cause and there may also arise a need to drain it.
Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
'Whitlows' can be caused by a virus or by a bacterium that enters the body through a cut. People who work in water, like washermen are likely to suffer more.
Sings & Symptoms
* The finger around the nail swells and becomes painful to touch
* A blister of pus may develop alongside the nail.
* In a more severe infection, the skin around the nail is also affected.
* Fever and sleeplessness occur.