Is whitlow finger contagious?

In: Helpful tips

Is whitlow finger contagious?

A whitlow is a painful and highly contagious infection on the fingers caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is also known as herpetic whitlow.

What does a whitlow on finger look like?

Check if you have herpetic whitlow Symptoms of herpetic whitlow include: swelling and pain in your finger. blisters or sores on your finger. skin becoming red or darker than your usual skin tone.

What can be mistaken for whitlow?

Herpetic whitlow is most commonly mistaken for paronychia (a localized bacterial abscess in the nail fold) or bacterial felon (digital pulp abscess).

Will a whitlow go on its own?

Without treatment, herpetic whitlow tends to go away in 2–4 weeks . To reduce the duration of the symptoms, a person can try antiviral medications. These limit the appearance of symptoms by up to 4 days . Antiviral medications also prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the body.

How long does whitlow last?

While these vesicles are present, herpetic whitlow is extremely contagious. About 2 weeks after vesicles first appear, a crust forms over them. This signals the end of viral shedding. If untreated, the infection usually resolves in 3 to 4 weeks.

How do you treat a whitlow at home?

You can treat herpetic whitlow at home by:

  1. taking a pain reliever — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — to help reduce pain and fever.
  2. applying a cold compress several times a day to help reduce swelling.
  3. cleaning the affected area daily and covering it with gauze.

How do you treat a Whitlow at home?

Is Whitlow a bacterial infection?

Introduction. Whitlow is an infection of a finger or around the fingernails, generally caused by bacterium. However, in rare cases, it may also be caused by the herpes simplex virus. As herpetic whitlow is not seen often, it may go under-recognised or be mistaken for a different kind of infection of the finger.

How do you treat an infected baby finger?

Soak it in warm water. You can also put a warm wet cloth on the wound. Do this for 10 minutes 3 times per day….Antibiotic Ointment:

  1. Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin).
  2. No prescription is needed.
  3. Put it on the wound 3 times a day.
  4. If the area could become dirty, cover with a bandage (such as Band-Aid).