Paronychia: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

Paronychia is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful. Sometimes a pus-filled blister may form. Most of the time, paronychia is no big deal and can be treated at home. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the rest of the finger or toe.There are two different types of paronychia, acute and chronic:Acute paronychia – this usually appears as a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth and redness around a fingernail or toenail, usually after an injury to the area.Chronic paronychia – this is an infection that usually develops slowly, causing gradual swelling, tenderness and redness of the skin around the nails.