Paronychia: How to Care for Your Child
Paronychia is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. Often, kids with paronychia get a pus-filled blister that needs to be drained. With treatment, paronychia usually goes away completely. You can do things at home to help the infection heal.
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Soak the finger or toe in warm water for 10–20 minutes, 3 times a day.
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If liquid drains from the paronychia after soaking, gently wipe it away.
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Apply an ointment, if the health care professional recommended.
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If medicine to be taken by mouth was prescribed, be sure your child takes it as directed.
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To help prevent another infection, remind your child to not bite nails or suck on the fingers.
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Keep your child's nails smooth and not too short. Trim them weekly (monthly for toenails), but do not trim the cuticles.
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The paronychia gets worse.
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Your child gets a new pus-filled blister around the nail.
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Your child has a fever, vomiting (throwing up), or chills.
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There is increased swelling or pain of the finger or toe.
Your child:
How does paronychia happen? When the skin around the nail is injured, germs can get under the skin and cause an infection. This can happen from biting off a hangnail, thumb-sucking, pushing back the cuticle, or getting manicures often. Kids who have their hands in water often are more likely to get paronychia.
How is paronychia treated? Treatment depends on what caused the paronychia and how serious it is. If there is a pus-filled blister, the health care professional will make a small cut in it and drain the fluid. Sometimes, medicines are needed to treat the infection. These might be skin ointments or antibiotics taken by mouth.