dermatologic disorders
Acute Paronychia
Introduction
Paronychia is infection of the periungual tissues. Acute paronychia causes redness, warmth, and pain along the nail margin. Diagnosis is by inspection. Treatment is with antistaphylococcal antibiotics and drainage of any pus. (See also Overview of Nail Disorders .) Paronychia is usually acute, but Chronic Paronychia occur. In acute paronychia, the causative organisms are usually Novel drug therapies, such as with inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and less commonlyBRAFgene inhibitors, can cause paronychia along with other skin changes. The mechanism is not completely understood. However, most cases seem to be caused by the drug itself, such as through alterations in retinoic acid metabolism, and not by secondary infection. In patients with diabetes and those with Peripheral Arterial Disease , toe paronychia can lead to more extensive infection and threaten the limb. 