WHITLOW FINGER

Overview and Facts

Herpetic whitlow finger is a viral infection wherein tiny blisters form on the fingers and the fleshy area around the fingertips. These little sores are painful and develop after direct contact with an infected blister. The herpes simplex virus known as (HSV) is the pathogen responsible for this kind of infection.

Although herpetic whitlow is brought about by the same infection responsible for cold sores and genital herpes, it is known as a contagious infection. You must recognize the symptoms of this illness and try to find a way on how to protect yourself from being infected

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

There are two types of HSV namely:

Type 1 normally affects the parts around the mouth, lips, and face
Type 2 affectsthe private parts of the body

SYMPTOMS

Herpetic whitlow can develop on any part of your fingers
Your fingers may become red and swollen prior a blister forms
The sores rupture on its own and form a scab
Herpetic whitlow is accompanied by fever and swollen lymph nodes

TYPES

Other common types of leg ulcer include:

Arterial leg ulcers
Diabetic leg ulcers
Malignant leg ulcers
Traumatic leg ulcers
Vasculitic leg ulcers

Ulcers in the foot are usually caused by diabetes.

SYMPTOMS

Itching, pain, and swelling in the affected leg are characteristic symptoms of a venous leg ulcer.

Discoloration, hardening of the skin around the ulcer, and presence of a foul-smelling discharge may also be present when you have a venous leg ulcer.

If you have a venous leg ulcer, you may exhibit the following conditions:

discoloration and darkening of the skin around the ulcer
swollen ankles
red, flaky, scaly and itchy skin on your legs
swollen and enlarged veins on your legs
hardened skin around the ulcer, which may make your leg feel hard
a heavy feeling in your legs
an unpleasant and foul-smelling discharge from the ulcer
aching or swelling in your legs

Signs of an infection

Opportunistic pathogens could cause secondary bacterial infections due to the ulcer.

Symptoms of an infected leg ulcer may include:

a green or unpleasant discharge coming from the ulcer
fever
redness and swelling of the skin around the ulcer
worsening pain
an unpleasant smell coming from the ulcer

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor usually identifies viral infections based on the appearance of blisters or lesions. As soon as your doctor suspects a viral infection, a skin swab will be done, and he or she will conduct a blood test to confirm herpetic whitlow.

TREATMENT

Herpetic whitlow does not require any medical treatment. The condition normally heals within a few weeks even without medication, but with the help of antiviral drugs, the duration of the infection can be shortened. Antivirals medicines are only effective when taken within 24 hours of developing symptoms.

Antivirals also help lower the risk of passing the infection to other people. When a blister ruptures and becomes infected with bacteria, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic.

You can treat herpetic whitlow at home by:

Taking a pain reliever like paracetamol or ibuprofen, to diminish pain and fever
Applying a cold compress several times a day to reduce swelling
Cleaning the infected site daily and covering it with gauze

Complications brought by herpetic whitlow

Because of the contagious nature of this infection, infected individuals should keep the blistered area covered until it heals. If you don’t follow the instruction as directed, the infection could spread to other parts of the body or might infect other people. Wearing gloves while cleaning an infected area also helps stop the spreading of the infection to other parts of the body. As a precautionary measure, don’t wear contact lenses if you have herpetic whitlow. If you touch your eye with an infected finger, the virus could spread to your eye that will lead to another serious problem.