Definition
Patereccio is an inflammation of infectious origin that affects the ends of fingers and toes.
Inflammation can involve both the superficial structures of the finger and the deeper ones. In fact, there are three different types of patereccio: the superficial paterecium, the subcutaneous and the deep.
The paterecium usually occurs in acute form, but, in some cases, it can also become chronic.
Causes
Paterecium is mainly caused by bacterial infections sustained by pyogenic bacteria, such as staphylococci or streptococci.
It can also be caused by fungal infections sustained by Candida albicans .
The micro-organisms that trigger the inflammatory response - therefore the onset of the paterecium - normally live on our skin, or can be carried by saliva and penetrate the fingers through small lesions, such as scratches or bites.
Biting nails or sucking fingers, frequent contact with soaps or harsh chemicals and ingrown nails increase the risk of the onset of the paterecium.
The chronic paterecry can also be caused by pre-existing systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, patients with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of developing the infection.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the paterecellus consist of the typical signs of an inflammatory response, that is, in: redness, heat, pain and swelling of the affected area (in this case, of the finger). Other symptoms that may occur are edema, pus formation, phlegmon, flittene, blister formation and nail changes.
In severe cases, the infection can also spread to the deeper structures of the finger, causing pathologies such as tenosynovitis or arthritis.
Furthermore, in immunocompromised patients and in patients who neglect inflammation, infection can occur in other areas of the body and / or in the bloodstream (in the latter case, therefore, there is talk of septicemia) .
The information on Patereccio - Farmaci and Cura del Patereccio is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Patereccio - Farmaci e Cura del Patereccio.
drugs
The drugs for the treatment of the paternalis are chosen in function of the microorganism responsible for the infection that - in turn - has triggered the inflammatory response.
If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotic drugs will be used. If, on the other hand, the infection is caused by Candida albicans, antifungal drugs will be used.
In the most serious cases, however, drug treatment may not be enough and it may be necessary to resort to incision and drainage of the wound.
Photo: paronychia, a type of superficial paterecium located near the nail.
Antibiotics
Antibiotic drugs are used when the infection is sustained by bacteria, such as staphylococci and streptococci.
Generally, it is preferred to use antibiotics in the form of pharmaceutical formulations for cutaneous use. Among these, we recall:
- Gentamicin (Gentalyn ®, Gentamicin Hexal ®, Eutopic ®): gentamicin is an antibiotic belonging to the class of macrolides.
When used in the form of cream or ointment for cutaneous use, it is recommended to apply the product 3-4 times a day, directly on the affected finger, until an improvement in the symptoms. After that, the frequency of administration can be decreased to once or twice a day.
Antifungals
Antifungal drugs are used in the treatment of the paternalis when the latter is caused by infections sustained by Candida albicans .
Compared to paterecry caused by bacterial infections, that caused by yeast infections can require a longer healing time.
Among the antifungals that can be used to fight Candida infections, we recall:
- Fluconazole (Elazor ® gel, Diflucan ® gel): fluconazole is an azole-type antifungal. When used as a gel, it is recommended to apply the product once a day directly on the affected finger.
The duration of treatment is usually 1-3 weeks. For particularly resistant infections the therapy can be prolonged up to six weeks, in the opinion of the doctor.
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral ® cream): ketoconazole is also an azole type antifungal. When used as a cream, it is recommended to apply the product on the affected area once a day, for a period of 2-3 weeks.
However, the exact dosage of the drug must be established by the doctor.
